Photographers pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,260 or more. The middle half of photographers in Chattanooga earn between $30,040 and $48,820.
- $19K10th
- $30K25th
- $34KMedian
- $49K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,580 | $3,298 | $19.03 |
| Median | $33,600 | $2,800 | $16.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,040 | $2,503 | $14.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,820 | $4,068 | $23.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Photographers in Chattanooga earn 10% less than the Tennessee average ($44,060) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -25% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $39,580 | $33,600 | $19,180 | $59,260 | 50 |
| Tennessee | $44,060 | $37,950 | $28,820 | $67,060 | 780 |
| United States | $55,410 | $44,660 | $30,820 | $91,810 | 51,760 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Photographers salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $39,580, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $33,983 a year, or $2,832 a month and $1,307 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $33,983 | $2,832 |
| Working in GA | $32,756 | $2,730 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $39,580 buys what about $43,274 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 8.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 4th of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($51,170).
Highest-paying cities for photographers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($83,790).
- San Francisco, CA$83,790
- San Jose, CA$75,490
- Los Angeles, CA$73,520
- Santa Rosa, CA$72,250
- Santa Maria, CA$72,200
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Photographers salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Chattanooga?
$19.03 an hour on average, and $16.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $33,983 a year ($2,832 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,580. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do photographers earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% less than the U.S. average for this job ($55,410).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-4021; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.59, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.59).
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