Photographer Salary in Dallas, TX
Photographers in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area earn a median $43,970 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,510 take-home, or $3,126 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median photographer salary in Dallas, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,096
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,726
- Medicare (1.45%)$638
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$37,510
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Photographer pay by experience in Dallas, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,150 | $12.57 | $23,145 | $1,929 |
| 25th percentile | $35,770 | $17.20 | $30,921 | $2,577 |
| Median (50th) | $43,970 | $21.14 | $37,510 | $3,126 |
| 75th percentile | $53,240 | $25.60 | $44,958 | $3,747 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,220 | $30.88 | $53,781 | $4,482 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,970 buys in Dallas, TX
Prices in Dallas, TX are 3.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.18× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median photographer's $37,510 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,386 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 Dallas, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for photographers, adjusted for cost of living
Dallas, TX ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Dallas, TX | $43,970 | $37,510 | $36,386 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 23 metros →
Photographer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Houston, TX — $41,280
- Austin, TX — $38,970
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographer make in Dallas, TX?
The median photographer salary in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area is $43,970 a year, or about $21.14 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,770 and $53,240.
What is a photographer’s take-home pay in Dallas, TX?
On the median $43,970 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $37,510 a year ($3,126 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Dallas, TX a good place to work as a photographer?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $44,660. Local prices are 3.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,386 would in a typical U.S. city. Dallas, TX ranks #11 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a photographer afford rent in Dallas, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Dallas, TX is $1,586 a month ($1,858 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median photographer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Dallas, TX
- Art Director — $87,810
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $86,920
- Technical Writer — $86,520
- Producer and Director — $77,260
- Public Relations Specialist — $69,280
- Interior Designer — $65,160
- Writer and Author — $64,520
- Graphic Designer — $63,780
- Broadcast Technician — $63,500
- Fashion Designer — $63,210
- Interpreter and Translator — $56,920
- Audio and Video Technician — $56,740