Photographers pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,450 or more. The middle half of photographers in Lexington earn between $35,780 and $65,080.
- $26K10th
- $36K25th
- $47KMedian
- $65K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,940 | $4,412 | $25.45 |
| Median | $47,170 | $3,931 | $22.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,780 | $2,982 | $17.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,080 | $5,423 | $31.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Photographers salary after taxes in Lexington
On the average salary of $52,940, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $41,526 a year, or $3,461 a month and $1,597 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $52,940 buys what about $56,993 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 1st of 3 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lexington$52,940
- Louisville$52,880
- Bowling Green$43,080
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 Lexington: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Lexington?
$25.45 an hour on average, and $22.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Lexington?
About $41,526 a year ($3,461 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,940. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do photographers earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($56,592).
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.7%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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