Photographers Salary in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
The median pay for a photographers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA is $42,030/year ($20.21/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.44), so that salary is closer to $39,487 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,201/month — about 75.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $42K get you in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario’s Regional Price Parity (106.44). 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.
About photographers
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Entry-level photographers (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $43K 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
How much do photographers make in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The median is $42,030 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,510, and experienced photographers can clear $77,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,912/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,201/month, which eats 75.6% 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario has a Regional Price Parity of 106.44 (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 $39,487 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.