Creative pay 2026
Photographer salary in Virginia (2026)
Photographers in Virginia earn a median $46,550 a year ($22.38 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is close to the US median for the job ($44,660), 14th of 50 states and territories. That is below the $55,690 median for all jobs in Virginia.
- $46,550median a year in Virginia
- $22.38median an hour
- +4%vs the US median ($44,660)
- 1,580employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a photographer in Virginia?
Half of photographers in Virginia earn between $35,640 and $55,800. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.9 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $31,200 | $30,820 | $15.00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $35,640 | $36,050 | $17.14 |
| Median | $46,550 | $44,660 | $22.38 |
| 75th | $55,800 | $62,740 | $26.83 |
| 90th percentile | $91,060 | $91,810 | $43.78 |
The mean (average) is $52,640, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Virginia compare with other states?
Virginia sits 14th of 50, between Maine ($46,680) and Minnesota ($46,470).
| Kentucky | $47,170 | +1% | 380 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $46,450 | 0% | 790 |
| North Carolina | $37,120 | −20% | 2,130 |
| Tennessee | $37,950 | −18% | 780 |
| West Virginia | $36,110 | −22% | 110 |
| District of Columbia | $110,970 | +138% | 260 |
Which cities in Virginia pay photographers best?
Of the 5 metro areas in Virginia where BLS publishes a median for the job, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays most, at $54,530, 17% above the state median.
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,060 | $54,530 | $26.22 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 270 | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 210 | $42,210 | $20.29 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 60 | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Roanoke, VA | 50 | $39,710 | $19.09 |
How many photographers work in Virginia?
BLS estimates 1,580 employee jobs, 0.38 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. It is about as common here as nationally (location quotient 1.15).
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 Virginia?
Every other creative job here pays a higher median than photographers do.
| Copywriter | $85,000 | 1,530 |
|---|---|---|
| Motion designer | $81,510 | 380 |
| Video editor | $78,740 | n/a |
| UX/UI designer | $77,140 | 1,990 |
| Graphic designer | $72,310 | 4,740 |
| Videographer | $58,440 | 420 |
What do freelance photographers charge?
Upwork, photographers list $25 to $45 an hour, worldwide. Virginia's employee median of $22.38 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 Virginia?
The median is $46,550 a year and the mean is $52,640, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 1,580 employee jobs.
How much does a photographer make an hour in Virginia?
The median hourly wage is $22.38. The bottom 10% earn under $15.00 and the top 10% over $43.78.
What does a starting photographer earn in Virginia?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of photographers in Virginia earn under $35,640 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $31,200, 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 = 1,580 jobs in the Virginia 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
- Minnesota $46,470
- Maryland $46,450