Photographers pay range in Virginia Beach
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,970 or more. The middle half of photographers in Virginia Beach earn between $35,380 and $50,070.
- $28K10th
- $35K25th
- $42KMedian
- $50K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,200 | $4,017 | $23.17 |
| Median | $42,210 | $3,518 | $20.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,380 | $2,948 | $17.01 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,070 | $4,172 | $24.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Virginia Beach vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Photographers in Virginia Beach earn 8% less than the Virginia average ($52,640) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $48,200 | $42,210 | $28,480 | $76,970 | 210 |
| 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 Virginia Beach
On the average salary of $48,200, a single filer in Virginia Beach takes home about $38,951 a year, or $3,246 a month and $1,498 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NC | $39,494 | $3,291 |
| Working in VA | $38,951 | $3,246 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Virginia Beach a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Virginia Beach area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $48,200 buys what about $49,213 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Virginia Beach ($49,430). A typical home costs $373,678, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Virginia cities
Virginia Beach ranks 3rd 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Photographers salary in Virginia Beach: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Virginia Beach?
$23.18 an hour on average, and $20.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Virginia Beach?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Virginia Beach?
About $38,951 a year ($3,246 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,200.
Do photographers earn more in Virginia Beach than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (47260). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.3%.
- 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 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.