Photographer Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Photographers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $47,840 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,078 take-home, or $3,256 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median photographer salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,561
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,966
- Medicare (1.45%)$694
- California income tax$920
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$622
- Take-home pay$39,078
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Photographer pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,460 | $17.53 | $30,554 | $2,546 |
| 25th percentile | $38,410 | $18.47 | $32,017 | $2,668 |
| Median (50th) | $47,840 | $23.00 | $39,078 | $3,256 |
| 75th percentile | $79,060 | $38.01 | $60,298 | $5,025 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,090 | $63.99 | $92,355 | $7,696 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,840 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median photographer's $39,078 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,410 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 2.1× the national concentration of photographer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for photographers, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $47,840 | $39,078 | $34,410 |
*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 California
- San Francisco, CA — $58,840
- Riverside, CA — $43,710
- San Diego, CA — $44,030
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographer make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median photographer salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $47,840 a year, or about $23.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,410 and $79,060.
What is a photographer’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $47,840 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $39,078 a year ($3,256 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,542 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a photographer?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $44,660. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,410 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #15 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a photographer afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 69% of a median photographer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Art Director — $137,560
- Producer and Director — $131,600
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $124,590
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $107,620
- Set and Exhibit Designer — $106,880
- Lighting Technician — $105,010
- Technical Writer — $104,000
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $103,050
- Editor — $100,050
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $96,260
- Music Director and Composer — $93,090
- Film and Video Editor — $83,210