Photographer Salary in Washington, DC
Photographers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $54,530 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,889 take-home, or $3,657 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median photographer salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,364
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,381
- Medicare (1.45%)$791
- District of Columbia income tax$2,106
- Take-home pay$43,889
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Photographer pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,440 | $17.04 | $29,696 | $2,475 |
| 25th percentile | $41,460 | $19.93 | $34,172 | $2,848 |
| Median (50th) | $54,530 | $26.22 | $43,889 | $3,657 |
| 75th percentile | $92,360 | $44.40 | $68,923 | $5,744 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,830 | $60.01 | $88,945 | $7,412 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $54,530 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median photographer's $43,889 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,308 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 Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for photographers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #4 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 Washington, DC?
The median photographer salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $54,530 a year, or about $26.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $41,460 and $92,360.
What is a photographer’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $54,530 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $43,889 a year ($3,657 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,106 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a photographer?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $44,660. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,308 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #4 of 23 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a photographer afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 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 Washington, DC
- Artists and Related Workers, All Other — $125,050
- Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other — $121,680
- Writer and Author — $108,460
- Art Director — $105,990
- Public Relations Specialist — $101,680
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $101,020
- Producer and Director — $100,270
- Technical Writer — $99,910
- Interpreter and Translator — $94,510
- Film and Video Editor — $91,750
- Graphic Designer — $85,420
- Editor — $84,800