Photographers Salary in Billings, MT
The median pay for a photographers in Billings, MT is $36,590/year ($17.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.53), which stretches that salary to about $39,121 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,417/month — about 56.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $37K get you in Billings?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Billings’s Regional Price Parity (93.53). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About photographers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Billings, MT
Entry-level photographers (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Photographers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111K | +160% | 270 |
| Massachusetts | $61K | +43% | 1,170 |
| New York | $58K | +36% | 3,620 |
| Oregon | $56K | +31% | 570 |
| Minnesota | $55K | +29% | 530 |
| New Jersey | $51K | +19% | 1,280 |
| California | $51K | +19% | 7,300 |
| Delaware | $50K | +18% | 250 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | +17% | 160 |
| Louisiana | $50K | +17% | 410 |
| Connecticut | $48K | +13% | 490 |
| New Hampshire | $48K | +13% | 180 |
| Utah | $48K | +12% | 650 |
| Hawaii | $45K | +7% | 450 |
| Maryland | $45K | +6% | 870 |
| Mississippi | $45K | +5% | 190 |
| Maine | $45K | +5% | 170 |
| Washington | $45K | +5% | 1,260 |
| Virginia | $43K | +2% | 1,360 |
| Kentucky | $42K | -1% | 300 |
| New Mexico | $42K | -2% | 210 |
| Georgia | $40K | -6% | 1,950 |
| Wyoming | $40K | -7% | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $40K | -7% | 2,000 |
| Wisconsin | $39K | -7% | 1,040 |
| Nebraska | $39K | -8% | 290 |
| North Carolina | $38K | -10% | 1,620 |
| Florida | $38K | -10% | 4,450 |
| Arizona | $38K | -10% | 1,090 |
| Oklahoma | $38K | -11% | 360 |
| Missouri | $37K | -12% | 810 |
| Indiana | $37K | -12% | 870 |
| Idaho | $37K | -13% | 170 |
| Texas | $37K | -14% | 3,780 |
| Iowa | $36K | -14% | 370 |
| Alaska | $36K | -15% | 50 |
| Montana | $36K | -15% | 180 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -15% | 1,090 |
| Kansas | $36K | -15% | 270 |
| Nevada | $36K | -16% | 790 |
| West Virginia | $35K | -17% | 120 |
| South Dakota | $35K | -17% | 100 |
| Alabama | $35K | -17% | 490 |
| North Dakota | $35K | -17% | 80 |
| South Carolina | $35K | -18% | 590 |
| Illinois | $35K | -19% | 2,530 |
| Ohio | $34K | -20% | 1,970 |
| Arkansas | $34K | -20% | 240 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track photographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Billings numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do photographers make in Billings, MT?
The median is $36,590 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,960, and experienced photographers can clear $113,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Billings?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,532/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,417/month, which eats 56% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a photographers salary go in Billings?
Billings has a Regional Price Parity of 93.53 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median photographers salary is worth about $39,121 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do photographers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.