Photographer Salary in Houston, TX
Photographers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $41,280 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,348 take-home, or $2,946 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median photographer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,774
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,559
- Medicare (1.45%)$599
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$35,348
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Photographer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,360 | $14.12 | $25,771 | $2,148 |
| 25th percentile | $36,330 | $17.47 | $31,371 | $2,614 |
| Median (50th) | $41,280 | $19.85 | $35,348 | $2,946 |
| 75th percentile | $51,420 | $24.72 | $43,496 | $3,625 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,890 | $30.24 | $52,712 | $4,393 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $41,280 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median photographer's $35,348 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 less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for photographers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #13 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 |
| 13 | Houston, TX | $41,280 | $35,348 | $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 →
Photographer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $43,970
- Austin, TX — $38,970
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographer make in Houston, TX?
The median photographer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $41,280 a year, or about $19.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,330 and $51,420.
What is a photographer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $41,280 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $35,348 a year ($2,946 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a photographer?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $44,660. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,840 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #13 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a photographer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median photographer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
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- Athlete and Sports Competitor — $75,550
- Public Relations Specialist — $68,320
- Producer and Director — $63,950
- Interior Designer — $61,220
- Graphic Designer — $58,400
- Audio and Video Technician — $50,410
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $50,300
- Interpreter and Translator — $44,490
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