Wisconsin Median
$42,060
per year
Hourly Rate
$20.22
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-6% vs US median
US median $44,660
State Rank
#23 of 49
850 employed here
How much does a Photographer make in Wisconsin?
Photographers in Wisconsin take home a median of $42,060 annually — roughly $20.22 an hour — which runs 6% below the national median of $44,660.
Within Wisconsin, entry-level pay starts around $31,540 while the top 10% make $80,550 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,110 and $56,940 a year.
Photographer salary range in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,540 | $15.16 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $37,110 | $17.84 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $42,060 | $20.22 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $56,940 | $27.38 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,550 | $38.73 |
|
How Wisconsin compares
Wisconsin ranks 23rd 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 $42,640Nebraska $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 $37,300North Carolina $37,120Arizona $36,970Louisiana $36,830Oklahoma $36,750Illinois $36,570Alabama $36,130West Virginia $36,110Indiana $35,960Idaho $33,320Arkansas $32,810
Working as a Photographer in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin pay ($42,060) 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 Wisconsin?
The median Photographer salary in Wisconsin is $42,060 per year, or about $20.22 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $31,540 at the entry level to $80,550 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Wisconsin pay compare to the national average?
Wisconsin pays Photographers about 6% less than the national median of $44,660. Wisconsin ranks 23rd out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Wisconsin a good state for Photographers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $42,060 a year. About 850 Photographers are employed in Wisconsin. 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 Wisconsin?
The highest-paying occupations in Wisconsin include Cardiologist ($636,580), Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($572,060), Anesthesiologist ($443,990), 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.