Photographers pay range in Billings
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $110,570 or more. The middle half of photographers in Billings earn between $28,840 and $57,820.
- $23K10th
- $29K25th
- $36KMedian
- $58K75th
- $111K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,260 | $4,355 | $25.12 |
| Median | $36,360 | $3,030 | $17.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,840 | $2,403 | $13.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,820 | $4,818 | $27.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Billings vs. Montana and the U.S.
Photographers in Billings earn 6% more than the Montana average ($49,120) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $52,260 | $36,360 | $23,190 | $110,570 | 30 |
| Montana | $49,120 | $39,900 | $24,070 | $110,570 | 190 |
| 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 Billings
On the average salary of $52,260, a single filer in Billings takes home about $42,471 a year, or $3,539 a month and $1,634 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 (2026 rules).
Is Billings a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Billings area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.5), so the average $52,260 buys what about $55,878 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Billings ($49,060). A typical home costs $410,666, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Montana cities
Billings ranks 2nd of 2 Montana metro areas for this job; Bozeman pays the most ($55,540).
- Bozeman$55,540
- Billings$52,260
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 Billings: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Billings?
$25.12 an hour on average, and $17.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Billings?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Billings?
About $42,471 a year ($3,539 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,260.
Do photographers earn more in Billings than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Billings, MT (13740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.7%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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