Photographers Salary
The median pay for a photographers in Hawaii is $45,960/year ($22.1/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $41,717 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 70.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in Hawaii?
About photographers
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Photographers pay in Hawaii tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $45K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 74.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level photographers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Photographers salary by metro in Hawaii
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku | $52K | +13% | 100 |
| Urban Honolulu | $45K | -1% | 280 |
Compare to other states
Track photographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a photographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 74.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for photographers in Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new photographers typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,848/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 121% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is photographer a high-paying job in Hawaii?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $45K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for photographers?
Hawaii pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do photographers make in Hawaii?
The median is $45,960 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,800, and experienced photographers can clear $105,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,007/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 74.5% 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 Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median photographers salary is worth about $41,717 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.