Photographer Salary in Tampa, FL
Photographers in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn a median $44,530 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,960 take-home, or $3,163 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median photographer salary in Tampa, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,164
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,761
- Medicare (1.45%)$646
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$37,960
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Photographer pay by experience in Tampa, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,360 | $14.12 | $25,771 | $2,148 |
| 25th percentile | $34,780 | $16.72 | $30,126 | $2,510 |
| Median (50th) | $44,530 | $21.41 | $37,960 | $3,163 |
| 75th percentile | $69,320 | $33.33 | $57,597 | $4,800 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,660 | $41.18 | $69,092 | $5,758 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,530 buys in Tampa, FL
Prices in Tampa, FL are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.26× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median photographer's $37,960 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,625 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 Tampa, FL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for photographers, adjusted for cost of living
Tampa, FL ranks #7 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 →
Photographer salaries elsewhere in Florida
- Miami, FL — $49,980
- Orlando, FL — $34,860
Frequently asked questions
How much does a photographer make in Tampa, FL?
The median photographer salary in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $44,530 a year, or about $21.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,780 and $69,320.
What is a photographer’s take-home pay in Tampa, FL?
On the median $44,530 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $37,960 a year ($3,163 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Tampa, FL a good place to work as a photographer?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $44,660. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,625 would in a typical U.S. city. Tampa, FL ranks #7 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a photographer afford rent in Tampa, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tampa, FL is $1,696 a month ($1,977 for two bedrooms) — 54% of a median photographer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tampa, FL
- Producer and Director — $74,810
- Editor — $73,330
- Public Relations Specialist — $64,690
- Graphic Designer — $62,900
- Interior Designer — $61,850
- Audio and Video Technician — $53,970
- Interpreter and Translator — $49,470
- Coach and Scout — $43,600
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $38,350