Photographers · North Carolina

Photographers Salary in North Carolina

Photographers in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $37,120 —16.9% below the national median of $44,660. That ranks NC #40 of 49 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$37,120
Median hourly
$17.84
Entry level (P10)
$28,330
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$76,060
90th percentile
Employment
2,130
0.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-16.9%
U.S. $44,660

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$28,330
$33,170
$37,120
$52,660
$28,330$37,120$76,060
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $37,120.

Employment is 1.30× as concentrated as the national average, making North Carolina a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for photographers

All 49 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$110,970$53.352601.13
2New York$60,050$28.873,6501.13
3Massachusetts$57,990$27.888300.69
4Oregon$53,630$25.785100.78
5Utah$52,140$25.076601.14
6Delaware$50,100$24.091801.11
7Connecticut$49,790$23.946301.12
8New Mexico$48,090$23.122300.79
9Washington$48,050$23.109600.81
10California$47,840$23.007,9801.32

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

OccupationNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$67,230$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$43,840$47,320
Graphic Designers$58,450$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$37,960$39,390
Producers and Directors$63,700$90,360
Editors$73,740$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do photographers make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for photographers in North Carolina is $37,120, or $17.84 per hour. That is 16.9% below the national median of $44,660.

What is the entry-level photographers salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $28,330 per year ($13.62/hour). The 25th percentile is $33,170.

How many people work as photographers in North Carolina?

About 2,130 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 0.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for photographers?

North Carolina ranks #40 of 49 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.30x as concentrated as the national average, making North Carolina a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays photographers the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $110,970 per year, followed by New York ($60,050) and Massachusetts ($57,990).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes