North Carolina Median
$37,120
per year
Hourly Rate
$17.85
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-17% vs US median
US median $44,660
State Rank
#40 of 49
2,130 employed here
How much does a Photographer make in North Carolina?
Photographers in North Carolina take home a median of $37,120 annually — roughly $17.85 an hour — which runs 17% below the national median of $44,660.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $28,330 while the top 10% make $76,060 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $33,170 and $52,660 a year.
Photographer salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,330 | $13.62 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $33,170 | $15.95 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $37,120 | $17.85 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $52,660 | $25.32 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,060 | $36.57 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 40th out of 49 states and territories for Photographer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Photographer salary in other states
District of Columbia $110,970New York $60,050Massachusetts $57,990Oregon $53,630Utah $52,140Delaware $50,100Connecticut $49,790New Mexico $48,090Washington $48,050California $47,840Kentucky $47,170Colorado $47,070Maine $46,680Virginia $46,550Minnesota $46,470Maryland $46,450Hawaii $45,960Mississippi $45,860South Dakota $45,330New Hampshire $44,780Georgia $43,770Florida $42,640Wisconsin $42,060Nebraska $41,920Texas $41,280New Jersey $40,520Pennsylvania $40,520Montana $39,900Wyoming $39,330Alaska $39,190Missouri $39,170Ohio $38,470Iowa $38,290Tennessee $37,950South Carolina $37,890Kansas $37,790Nevada $37,460North Dakota $37,410Rhode Island $37,300Arizona $36,970Louisiana $36,830Oklahoma $36,750Illinois $36,570Alabama $36,130West Virginia $36,110Indiana $35,960Idaho $33,320Arkansas $32,810
Working as a Photographer in North Carolina
Nationally, about 52,000 people work as Photographers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare North Carolina pay ($37,120) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Photographer make in North Carolina?
The median Photographer salary in North Carolina is $37,120 per year, or about $17.85 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $28,330 at the entry level to $76,060 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Photographers about 17% less than the national median of $44,660. North Carolina ranks 40th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Photographers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $37,120 a year. About 2,130 Photographers are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Photographer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.