Photographers Salary
The median pay for a photographers in Texas is $41,280/year ($19.85/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $45,120 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 47.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $41K get you in Texas?
About photographers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Texas
Photographers pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $41K locally vs. $45K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 48.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level photographers (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Photographers salary by metro in Texas
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi | $45K | +9% | 50 |
| Waco | $44K | +7% | 30 |
| Lubbock | $44K | +7% | 40 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $44K | +7% | 1,480 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $42K | +1% | 40 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $41K | +0% | 800 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $39K | -6% | 540 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $38K | -8% | 330 |
| El Paso | $37K | -11% | 80 |
| Tyler | $34K | -17% | 50 |
| Killeen-Temple | $33K | -21% | N/A |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $28K | -32% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track photographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a photographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 48.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new photographers typically earn — is $25K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,495/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 95% 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 Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $41K locally vs. $45K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for photographers?
Texas pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do photographers make in Texas?
The median is $41,280 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,910, and experienced photographers can clear $62,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,934/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 48.2% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $45,120 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.