Photographers pay range in Winston-Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $65,900 or more. The middle half of photographers in Winston-Salem earn between $31,680 and $51,710.
- $30K10th
- $32K25th
- $39KMedian
- $52K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $46,750 | $3,896 | $22.48 |
| Median | $38,840 | $3,237 | $18.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,680 | $2,640 | $15.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $51,710 | $4,309 | $24.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Winston-Salem vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Photographers in Winston-Salem earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($47,540) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem | $46,750 | $38,840 | $30,120 | $65,900 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $47,540 | $37,120 | $28,330 | $76,060 | 2,130 |
| 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 Winston-Salem
On the average salary of $46,750, a single filer in Winston-Salem takes home about $38,387 a year, or $3,199 a month and $1,476 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Winston-Salem a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Winston-Salem area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.0), so the average $46,750 buys what about $50,791 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Winston-Salem ($46,380). A typical home costs $283,871, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other North Carolina cities
Winston-Salem ranks 6th of 9 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($51,210).
- Raleigh$51,210
- Greensboro$49,250
- Hickory$48,800
- Charlotte$48,230
- Durham$46,860
- Winston-Salem$46,750
- Wilmington$46,270
- Asheville$41,110
- Fayetteville$41,060
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 Winston-Salem: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Winston-Salem?
$22.48 an hour on average, and $18.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Winston-Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Winston-Salem?
About $38,387 a year ($3,199 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $46,750.
Do photographers earn more in Winston-Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Winston-Salem, NC (49180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.8%.
- 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 1.30, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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