Photographers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,260 or more. The middle half of photographers in Charleston earn between $40,270 and $63,860.
- $35K10th
- $40K25th
- $57KMedian
- $64K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,560 | $4,630 | $26.71 |
| Median | $56,890 | $4,741 | $27.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,270 | $3,356 | $19.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,860 | $5,322 | $30.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Photographers in Charleston earn 25% more than the South Carolina average ($44,380) and about the same as the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is +27% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $55,560 | $56,890 | $35,250 | $81,260 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $44,380 | $37,890 | $26,480 | $71,810 | 630 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $55,560, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $45,454 a year, or $3,788 a month and $1,748 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 Charleston a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $55,560 buys what about $55,031 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 5 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$55,560
- Greenville$49,150
- Myrtle Beach$40,380
- Spartanburg$40,050
- Columbia$38,590
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Photographers salary in Charleston: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Charleston?
$26.71 an hour on average, and $27.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $45,454 a year ($3,788 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,560.
Do photographers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.1%.
- 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 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.