Photographer Salary in Minneapolis, MN
Photographers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median $46,960 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,219 take-home, or $3,185 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median photographer salary in Minneapolis, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,455
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,912
- Medicare (1.45%)$681
- Minnesota income tax$1,694
- Take-home pay$38,219
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.35% state
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro spans Minnesota, Wisconsin. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Photographer pay by experience in Minneapolis, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,220 | $19.82 | $33,914 | $2,826 |
| 25th percentile | $45,500 | $21.88 | $37,124 | $3,094 |
| Median (50th) | $46,960 | $22.58 | $38,219 | $3,185 |
| 75th percentile | $65,050 | $31.27 | $51,548 | $4,296 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,500 | $42.07 | $65,960 | $5,497 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,960 buys in Minneapolis, MN
Prices in Minneapolis, MN are 4.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median photographer's $38,219 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,460 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 Minneapolis, MN than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for photographers, adjusted for cost of living
Minneapolis, MN ranks #10 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 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $46,960 | $38,219 | $36,460 |
*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 Minneapolis, MN?
The median photographer salary in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $46,960 a year, or about $22.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,500 and $65,050.
What is a photographer’s take-home pay in Minneapolis, MN?
On the median $46,960 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $38,219 a year ($3,185 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,694 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Minneapolis, MN a good place to work as a photographer?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $44,660. Local prices are 4.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,460 would in a typical U.S. city. Minneapolis, MN ranks #10 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a photographer afford rent in Minneapolis, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Minneapolis, MN is $1,396 a month ($1,700 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median photographer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Minneapolis, MN
- Art Director — $119,020
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $94,390
- Technical Writer — $86,340
- Producer and Director — $78,660
- Writer and Author — $76,470
- Interior Designer — $74,680
- Public Relations Specialist — $73,780
- Interpreter and Translator — $68,980
- Graphic Designer — $65,610
- Editor — $63,430
- Audio and Video Technician — $56,730
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $48,130