Photographers pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,060 or more. The middle half of photographers in Nashville earn between $37,960 and $63,870.
- $31K10th
- $38K25th
- $44KMedian
- $64K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,170 | $4,264 | $24.60 |
| Median | $44,480 | $3,707 | $21.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,960 | $3,163 | $18.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,870 | $5,322 | $30.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Photographers in Nashville earn 16% more than the Tennessee average ($44,060) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $51,170 | $44,480 | $31,170 | $72,060 | 240 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $51,170, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $43,295 a year, or $3,608 a month and $1,665 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $51,170 buys what about $53,115 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 1st of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Nashville$51,170
- Memphis$45,170
- Knoxville$43,280
- Chattanooga$39,580
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Photographers salary in Nashville: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Nashville?
$24.60 an hour on average, and $21.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Nashville?
About $43,295 a year ($3,608 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,170. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do photographers earn more in Nashville than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- 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 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.