Creative pay 2026
Photographer salary in North Carolina (2026)
Photographers in North Carolina earn a median $37,120 a year ($17.84 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 17% below the US median of $44,660; North Carolina is 40th of 50 states and territories. That is below the $47,970 median for all jobs in North Carolina.
- $37,120median a year in North Carolina
- $17.84median an hour
- −17%vs the US median ($44,660)
- 2,130employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a photographer in North Carolina?
Half of photographers in North Carolina earn between $33,170 and $52,660. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.7 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $28,330 | $30,820 | $13.62 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $33,170 | $36,050 | $15.95 |
| Median | $37,120 | $44,660 | $17.84 |
| 75th | $52,660 | $62,740 | $25.32 |
| 90th percentile | $76,060 | $91,810 | $36.57 |
The mean (average) is $47,540, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does North Carolina compare with other states?
North Carolina sits 40th of 50, between Rhode Island ($37,300) and Arizona ($36,970).
| Georgia | $43,770 | +18% | 1,420 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $37,890 | +2% | 630 |
| Tennessee | $37,950 | +2% | 780 |
| Virginia | $46,550 | +25% | 1,580 |
Which cities in North Carolina pay photographers best?
Of the 8 metro areas in North Carolina where BLS publishes a median for the job, Greensboro-High Point pays most, at $44,990, 21% above the state median.
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 690 | $36,810 | $17.70 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 300 | $41,130 | $19.78 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 210 | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 210 | $42,210 | $20.29 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 180 | $44,990 | $21.63 |
| Asheville, NC | 160 | $35,120 | $16.88 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 120 | $38,840 | $18.67 |
| Wilmington, NC | 80 | $37,690 | $18.12 |
How many photographers work in North Carolina?
BLS estimates 2,130 employee jobs, 0.43 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is concentrated here: North Carolina's share of employment in it is 1.30 times the national share (BLS's location quotient).
Employees only. BLS does not count the self-employed, who are a large share of several creative jobs.
What do other creative jobs pay in North Carolina?
Every other creative job here pays a higher median than photographers do.
| UX/UI designer | $97,990 | 3,400 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $88,350 | 370 |
| Copywriter | $63,660 | 1,810 |
| Videographer | $62,720 | 380 |
| Video editor | $60,020 | 400 |
| Graphic designer | $58,450 | 5,660 |
What do freelance photographers charge?
Upwork, photographers list $25 to $45 an hour, worldwide. North Carolina's employee median of $17.84 an hour is below that range. The rate calculator works out an hourly rate from the salary you want.
Questions
What is the average photographer salary in North Carolina?
The median is $37,120 a year and the mean is $47,540, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 2,130 employee jobs.
How much does a photographer make an hour in North Carolina?
The median hourly wage is $17.84. The bottom 10% earn under $13.62 and the top 10% over $36.57.
What does a starting photographer earn in North Carolina?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of photographers in North Carolina earn under $33,170 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $28,330, which is the nearest guide to starting pay.
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Where do these numbers come from?
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (published 15 May 2026). Occupation 27-4021, Photographers. Employees only; annual figures are hourly times 2,080.
n = 2,130 jobs in the North Carolina estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Photographer pay in other states
- District of Columbia $110,970
- New York $60,050
- Massachusetts $57,990
- Oregon $53,630
- Utah $52,140
- Connecticut $49,790
- Washington $48,050
- California $47,840
- Kentucky $47,170
- Colorado $47,070
- Virginia $46,550
- Minnesota $46,470