Photographer Salary in Denver, CO
Photographers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $47,340 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,843 take-home, or $3,237 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median photographer salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,501
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,935
- Medicare (1.45%)$686
- Colorado income tax$1,375
- Take-home pay$38,843
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Photographer pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,950 | $18.25 | $31,711 | $2,643 |
| 25th percentile | $39,110 | $18.80 | $32,592 | $2,716 |
| Median (50th) | $47,340 | $22.76 | $38,843 | $3,237 |
| 75th percentile | $73,420 | $35.30 | $57,959 | $4,830 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $97,810 | $47.02 | $74,044 | $6,170 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,340 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median photographer's $38,843 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,720 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 Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.17).
Best-paying cities for photographers, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $47,340 | $38,843 | $36,720 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median photographer salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $47,340 a year, or about $22.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,110 and $73,420.
What is a photographer’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $47,340 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $38,843 a year ($3,237 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,375 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a photographer?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $44,660. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,720 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #9 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a photographer afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median photographer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Technical Writer — $103,360
- Art Director — $99,990
- Public Relations Specialist — $82,930
- Producer and Director — $80,590
- Interior Designer — $80,150
- Editor — $78,670
- Broadcast Technician — $78,050
- Interpreter and Translator — $74,850
- Graphic Designer — $72,500
- Writer and Author — $69,100
- Audio and Video Technician — $57,970
- Coach and Scout — $47,110