Photographer Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Photographers in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $43,750 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,990 take-home, or $2,999 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median photographer salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,070
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,713
- Medicare (1.45%)$634
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,343
- Take-home pay$35,990
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Photographer pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,810 | $16.25 | $28,308 | $2,359 |
| 25th percentile | $35,590 | $17.11 | $29,684 | $2,474 |
| Median (50th) | $43,750 | $21.03 | $35,990 | $2,999 |
| 75th percentile | $58,070 | $27.92 | $47,056 | $3,921 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,670 | $38.78 | $63,105 | $5,259 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,750 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median photographer's $35,990 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,094 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for photographers, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $43,750 | $35,990 | $35,094 |
*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 Philadelphia, PA?
The median photographer salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $43,750 a year, or about $21.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,590 and $58,070.
What is a photographer’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $43,750 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $35,990 a year ($2,999 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,343 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a photographer?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $44,660. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,094 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #14 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a photographer afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 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 Philadelphia, PA
- Art Director — $105,260
- Broadcast Technician — $103,180
- Technical Writer — $92,330
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $89,190
- Writer and Author — $84,130
- Producer and Director — $79,070
- Editor — $74,530
- Interior Designer — $64,800
- Public Relations Specialist — $64,550
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $63,690
- Graphic Designer — $63,090
- Audio and Video Technician — $62,320