Photographers pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,280 or more. The middle half of photographers in Rochester earn between $35,000 and $63,170.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $42KMedian
- $63K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,340 | $4,195 | $24.20 |
| Median | $42,260 | $3,522 | $20.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,000 | $2,917 | $16.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,170 | $5,264 | $30.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Photographers in Rochester earn 30% less than the New York average ($71,710) and 9% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $50,340 | $42,260 | $34,400 | $78,280 | 120 |
| New York | $71,710 | $60,050 | $37,890 | $109,470 | 3,650 |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $50,340, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $40,464 a year, or $3,372 a month and $1,556 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $50,340 buys what about $51,878 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 6th of 7 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($71,860).
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 Rochester: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Rochester?
$24.20 an hour on average, and $20.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Rochester?
About $40,464 a year ($3,372 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $50,340. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do photographers earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.9%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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