Photographers pay range in Roanoke
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,700 or more. The middle half of photographers in Roanoke earn between $34,530 and $46,800.
- $27K10th
- $35K25th
- $40KMedian
- $47K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,620 | $3,802 | $21.93 |
| Median | $39,710 | $3,309 | $19.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,530 | $2,878 | $16.60 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,800 | $3,900 | $22.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Roanoke vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Photographers in Roanoke earn 13% less than the Virginia average ($52,640) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | $45,620 | $39,710 | $27,230 | $63,700 | 50 |
| Virginia | $52,640 | $46,550 | $31,200 | $91,060 | 1,580 |
| 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 Roanoke
On the average salary of $45,620, a single filer in Roanoke takes home about $37,027 a year, or $3,086 a month and $1,424 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Roanoke a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Roanoke area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.6), so the average $45,620 buys what about $48,730 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Roanoke ($47,140). A typical home costs $301,139, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Virginia cities
Roanoke ranks 4th of 4 Virginia metro areas for this job; Richmond pays the most ($53,510).
- Richmond$53,510
- Charlottesville$51,890
- Virginia Beach$48,200
- Roanoke$45,620
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 Roanoke: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Roanoke?
$21.93 an hour on average, and $19.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Roanoke?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Roanoke?
About $37,027 a year ($3,086 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,620.
Do photographers earn more in Roanoke than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% 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 Roanoke, VA (40220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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 state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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