Photographer Salary in Seattle, WA
Photographers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $51,790 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,793 take-home, or $3,649 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median photographer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,035
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,211
- Medicare (1.45%)$751
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$43,793
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Photographer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,800 | $19.13 | $34,159 | $2,847 |
| 25th percentile | $44,350 | $21.32 | $37,815 | $3,151 |
| Median (50th) | $51,790 | $24.90 | $43,793 | $3,649 |
| 75th percentile | $74,110 | $35.63 | $60,966 | $5,081 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,280 | $40.52 | $68,121 | $5,677 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,790 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median photographer's $43,793 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,406 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 Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for photographers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #5 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 |
*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 Seattle, WA?
The median photographer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $51,790 a year, or about $24.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,350 and $74,110.
What is a photographer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $51,790 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $43,793 a year ($3,649 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a photographer?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $44,660. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,406 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #5 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a photographer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 55% of a median photographer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $134,120
- Art Director — $124,610
- Technical Writer — $107,580
- Writer and Author — $98,730
- Public Relations Specialist — $96,000
- Producer and Director — $86,680
- Editor — $79,660
- Interior Designer — $78,810
- Graphic Designer — $76,720
- Audio and Video Technician — $69,270
- Interpreter and Translator — $65,800
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $59,340