Photographers pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,670 or more. The middle half of photographers in Philadelphia earn between $35,590 and $58,070.
- $34K10th
- $36K25th
- $44KMedian
- $58K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,490 | $4,374 | $25.24 |
| Median | $43,750 | $3,646 | $21.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,590 | $2,966 | $17.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,070 | $4,839 | $27.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Photographers in Philadelphia earn 7% more than the Pennsylvania average ($49,190) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $52,490 | $43,750 | $33,810 | $80,670 | 950 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,190 | $40,520 | $29,020 | $75,100 | 1,870 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $52,490, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $42,744 a year, or $3,562 a month and $1,644 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $43,003 | $3,584 |
| Working in PA | $42,744 | $3,562 |
| Working in MD | $42,074 | $3,506 |
| Working in DE | $42,009 | $3,501 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $52,490 buys what about $51,183 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 9 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Philadelphia$52,490
- Pittsburgh$52,190
- York$50,010
- Scranton$49,000
- Reading$45,380
- Lancaster$43,830
- Harrisburg$43,610
- Allentown$43,070
- Chambersburg$37,270
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Philadelphia?
$25.24 an hour on average, and $21.04 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $42,744 a year ($3,562 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,490. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do photographers earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.3%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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