Photographers Salary
The median pay for a photographers in South Carolina is $37,890/year ($18.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $40,668 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 48.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in South Carolina?
About photographers
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for photographers in South Carolina runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $45K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 47.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, South Carolina
Entry-level photographers (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Photographers salary by metro in South Carolina
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $57K | +50% | 100 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $40K | +5% | 120 |
| Spartanburg | $37K | -2% | 40 |
| Columbia | $36K | -5% | 120 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $35K | -8% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track photographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a photographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 47.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/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 South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new photographers typically earn — is $26K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,589/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 79% 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 South Carolina?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $38K here vs. $45K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for photographers?
South Carolina pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do photographers make in South Carolina?
The median is $37,890 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $26,480, and experienced photographers can clear $71,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,641/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 47.8% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $40,668 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.