Photographers pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,280 or more. The middle half of photographers in Seattle earn between $44,350 and $74,110.
- $40K10th
- $44K25th
- $52KMedian
- $74K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29.33 |
| Median | $51,790 | $4,316 | $24.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,350 | $3,696 | $21.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,110 | $6,176 | $35.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Photographers in Seattle earn 8% more than the Washington average ($56,270) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $61,000 | $51,790 | $39,800 | $84,280 | 550 |
| Washington | $56,270 | $48,050 | $37,440 | $83,200 | 960 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $61,000, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $51,194 a year, or $4,266 a month and $1,969 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $61,000 buys what about $54,889 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 12.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Washington cities
Seattle ranks 1st of 4 Washington metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Seattle: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Seattle?
$29.33 an hour on average, and $24.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Seattle?
About $51,194 a year ($4,266 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,000. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do photographers earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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