Photographers pay range in Charlottesville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,100 or more. The middle half of photographers in Charlottesville earn between $36,500 and $53,710.
- $33K10th
- $36K25th
- $44KMedian
- $54K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,890 | $4,324 | $24.95 |
| Median | $44,290 | $3,691 | $21.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,500 | $3,042 | $17.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $53,710 | $4,476 | $25.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Photographers salary after taxes in Charlottesville
On the average salary of $51,890, a single filer in Charlottesville takes home about $41,704 a year, or $3,475 a month and $1,604 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).
Is Charlottesville a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlottesville area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 99.1), so the average $51,890 buys what about $52,337 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlottesville ($55,180). A typical home costs $473,058, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Virginia cities
Charlottesville ranks 2nd of 4 Virginia metro areas for this job; Richmond pays the most ($53,510).
- Richmond$53,510
- Charlottesville$51,890
- Virginia Beach$48,200
- Roanoke$45,620
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 Charlottesville: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Charlottesville?
$24.95 an hour on average, and $21.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Charlottesville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Charlottesville?
About $41,704 a year ($3,475 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,890.
Do photographers earn more in Charlottesville than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($56,592).
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 Charlottesville, VA (16820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.53, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.