Photographers Salary
The median pay for a photographers in Ohio is $38,470/year ($18.5/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $42,067 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 45.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Ohio?
About photographers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for photographers in Ohio runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $45K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,188/month, which is 43.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for photographerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level photographers (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Photographers salary by metro in Ohio
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $43K | +12% | 290 |
| Cleveland | $42K | +9% | 290 |
| Columbus | $41K | +8% | 310 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $37K | -4% | 130 |
| Canton-Massillon | $37K | -5% | 60 |
| Akron | $36K | -6% | 80 |
| Toledo | $36K | -7% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track photographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a photographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 43.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/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 Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new photographers typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,420/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 84% 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 Ohio?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $38K here vs. $45K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for photographers?
Ohio pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do photographers make in Ohio?
The median is $38,470 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,670, and experienced photographers can clear $80,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,717/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 43.7% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $42,067 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.