Photographers pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,990 or more. The middle half of photographers in Richmond earn between $36,750 and $57,390.
- $31K10th
- $37K25th
- $46KMedian
- $57K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,510 | $4,459 | $25.73 |
| Median | $46,420 | $3,868 | $22.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,750 | $3,062 | $17.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,390 | $4,782 | $27.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Photographers salary after taxes in Richmond
On the average salary of $53,510, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $42,913 a year, or $3,576 a month and $1,650 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 Richmond a good place for photographers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $53,510 buys what about $54,681 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 1st of 4 Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Richmond: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Richmond?
$25.72 an hour on average, and $22.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Richmond?
About $42,913 a year ($3,576 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,510.
Do photographers earn more in Richmond than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.3%.
- 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 1.23, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.