Photographers Salary in Lancaster, PA
The median pay for a photographers in Lancaster, PA is $41,690/year ($20.04/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.26), that's roughly $42,428 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,526/month — about 52.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $42K get you in Lancaster?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lancaster’s Regional Price Parity (98.26). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lancaster, PA
Entry-level photographers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $34K 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 Lancaster numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do photographers make in Lancaster, PA?
The median is $41,690 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,250, and experienced photographers can clear $65,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Lancaster?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,855/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,526/month, which eats 53.5% 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 Lancaster?
Lancaster has a Regional Price Parity of 98.26 (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 $42,428 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.