Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Photographer's pay go, state by state?
A Photographer's pay leaves the most room in District of Columbia — about $5,052/mo take-home against $1,900/mo typical rent — and the least in Maryland.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $5,052/mo | $1,900/mo | 38% |
| Idaho | $4,055/mo | $1,163/mo | 29% |
| New York | $3,955/mo | $1,621/mo | 41% |
| California | $4,208/mo | $1,969/mo | 47% |
| Louisiana | $3,158/mo | $1,028/mo | 33% |
| Vermont | $3,302/mo | $1,207/mo | 37% |
| Wyoming | $2,998/mo | $979/mo | 33% |
| Connecticut | $3,402/mo | $1,483/mo | 44% |
| Rhode Island | $3,158/mo | $1,289/mo | 41% |
| Maine | $2,919/mo | $1,104/mo | 38% |
| Michigan | $2,878/mo | $1,072/mo | 37% |
| New Hampshire | $3,211/mo | $1,424/mo | 44% |
| Utah | $3,042/mo | $1,396/mo | 46% |
| New Jersey | $3,249/mo | $1,656/mo | 51% |
| Delaware | $2,881/mo | $1,321/mo | 46% |
| New Mexico | $2,580/mo | $1,034/mo | 40% |
| Missouri | $2,540/mo | $997/mo | 39% |
| Oregon | $2,952/mo | $1,431/mo | 48% |
| Massachusetts | $3,221/mo | $1,716/mo | 53% |
| Mississippi | $2,427/mo | $933/mo | 38% |
| Kentucky | $2,405/mo | $918/mo | 38% |
| Alaska | $2,828/mo | $1,361/mo | 48% |
| Indiana | $2,480/mo | $1,022/mo | 41% |
| Oklahoma | $2,423/mo | $970/mo | 40% |
| Georgia | $2,765/mo | $1,320/mo | 48% |
| South Dakota | $2,348/mo | $910/mo | 39% |
| Virginia | $2,969/mo | $1,547/mo | 52% |
| Iowa | $2,343/mo | $932/mo | 40% |
| Ohio | $2,340/mo | $986/mo | 42% |
| Wisconsin | $2,374/mo | $1,033/mo | 44% |
| Washington | $2,978/mo | $1,641/mo | 55% |
| North Carolina | $2,452/mo | $1,147/mo | 47% |
| Alabama | $2,185/mo | $967/mo | 44% |
| Arkansas | $2,108/mo | $903/mo | 43% |
| West Virginia | $2,051/mo | $848/mo | 41% |
| Colorado | $2,859/mo | $1,659/mo | 58% |
| Pennsylvania | $2,341/mo | $1,176/mo | 50% |
| Kansas | $2,170/mo | $1,025/mo | 47% |
| Nevada | $2,620/mo | $1,478/mo | 56% |
| Tennessee | $2,215/mo | $1,111/mo | 50% |
| North Dakota | $2,007/mo | $911/mo | 45% |
| Illinois | $2,330/mo | $1,246/mo | 53% |
| Hawaii | $2,995/mo | $1,927/mo | 64% |
| Nebraska | $2,081/mo | $1,017/mo | 49% |
| Arizona | $2,436/mo | $1,419/mo | 58% |
| Montana | $2,025/mo | $1,031/mo | 51% |
| South Carolina | $1,983/mo | $1,131/mo | 57% |
| Texas | $2,133/mo | $1,328/mo | 62% |
| Florida | $2,323/mo | $1,542/mo | 66% |
| Maryland | $2,434/mo | $1,683/mo | 69% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.