Photographers Salary
The median pay for a photographers in Minnesota is $46,470/year ($22.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $50,184 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,384/month, about 43.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in Minnesota?
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Photographers pay in Minnesota tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $45K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,384/month, which is 44.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level photographers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Photographers salary by metro in Minnesota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $47K | +1% | 520 |
Compare to other states
Track photographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a photographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 44.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/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 Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new photographers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,213/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 Minnesota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $45K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for photographers?
Minnesota pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do photographers make in Minnesota?
The median is $46,470 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,890, and experienced photographers can clear $84,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,137/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 44.1% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $50,184 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.