Photographer Salary in Boston, MA
Photographers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $55,020 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,858 take-home, or $3,655 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median photographer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,422
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,411
- Medicare (1.45%)$798
- Massachusetts income tax$2,531
- Take-home pay$43,858
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Photographer pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,870 | $17.73 | $30,182 | $2,515 |
| 25th percentile | $42,480 | $20.42 | $34,409 | $2,867 |
| Median (50th) | $55,020 | $26.45 | $43,858 | $3,655 |
| 75th percentile | $98,500 | $47.36 | $73,420 | $6,118 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,600 | $57.50 | $87,209 | $7,267 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $55,020 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median photographer's $43,858 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,509 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 less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for photographers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #3 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 |
*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 Boston, MA?
The median photographer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $55,020 a year, or about $26.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,480 and $98,500.
What is a photographer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $55,020 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $43,858 a year ($3,655 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,531 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a photographer?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $44,660. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,509 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #3 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a photographer afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median photographer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Art Director — $151,820
- Technical Writer — $111,750
- Fashion Designer — $106,630
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $102,530
- Editor — $86,410
- Writer and Author — $85,260
- Producer and Director — $83,850
- Interior Designer — $81,480
- Public Relations Specialist — $81,440
- Graphic Designer — $78,270
- Interpreter and Translator — $75,120
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $62,750