Photographers Salary
The median pay for a photographers in Nevada is $37,460/year ($18.01/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.79), that's roughly $37,539 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,501/month, about 55.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nevada. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in Nevada?
About photographers
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What this looks like in Nevada
Pay for photographers in Nevada runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $45K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,501/month, which is 56% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.79) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for photographerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nevada
Entry-level photographers (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Photographers salary by metro in Nevada
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reno | $49K | +30% | 80 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $37K | -2% | 770 |
Compare to other states
Track photographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nevada numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a photographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nevada?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 56% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,501/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for photographers in Nevada?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new photographers typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,597/month. At HUD’s $1,501/month FMR, rent would take 94% 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 Nevada?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $37K here vs. $45K nationally.
How does Nevada compare to the national average for photographers?
Nevada pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — below the national median.
How much do photographers make in Nevada?
The median is $37,460 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,610, and experienced photographers can clear $57,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Nevada?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,678/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,501/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 Nevada?
Nevada has a Regional Price Parity of 99.79 (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 $37,539 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.