Photographer Salary in Baltimore, MD
Photographers in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area earn a median $46,170 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,448 take-home, or $3,121 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median photographer salary in Baltimore, MD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,360
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,863
- Medicare (1.45%)$669
- Maryland income tax$1,829
- Take-home pay$37,448
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.75% state
Photographer pay by experience in Baltimore, MD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,131 | $2,178 |
| 25th percentile | $36,030 | $17.32 | $29,782 | $2,482 |
| Median (50th) | $46,170 | $22.20 | $37,448 | $3,121 |
| 75th percentile | $69,120 | $33.23 | $54,536 | $4,545 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,930 | $41.79 | $66,220 | $5,518 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maryland resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,170 buys in Baltimore, MD
Prices in Baltimore, MD are 4.5% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median photographer's $37,448 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,840 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Photographer jobs are about as common in Baltimore, MD as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for photographers, adjusted for cost of living
Baltimore, MD ranks #12 of 23 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $60,050 | $47,784 | $42,451 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $58,840 | $47,113 | $40,751 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $55,020 | $43,858 | $40,509 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $54,530 | $43,889 | $40,308 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $51,790 | $43,793 | $39,406 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $48,670 | $39,383 | $39,360 |
| 7 | Tampa, FL | $44,530 | $37,960 | $37,625 |
| 8 | Miami, FL | $49,980 | $42,339 | $37,089 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $46,170 | $37,448 | $35,840 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 23 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographer make in Baltimore, MD?
The median photographer salary in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area is $46,170 a year, or about $22.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,030 and $69,120.
What is a photographer’s take-home pay in Baltimore, MD?
On the median $46,170 salary, a single filer living in Maryland takes home about $37,448 a year ($3,121 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,829 in Maryland taxes in 2026.
Is Baltimore, MD a good place to work as a photographer?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $44,660. Local prices are 4.5% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,840 would in a typical U.S. city. Baltimore, MD ranks #12 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a photographer afford rent in Baltimore, MD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baltimore, MD is $1,511 a month ($1,857 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median photographer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baltimore, MD
- Technical Writer — $102,140
- Producer and Director — $80,850
- Editor — $79,730
- Public Relations Specialist — $77,570
- Graphic Designer — $75,790
- Audio and Video Technician — $65,270
- Interior Designer — $63,080
- Coach and Scout — $48,440
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $42,660