📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release

Photographer Salary in Virginia (2026)

Virginia · 10.0% above national average · Medium Demand

Average
$55,308
per year
Median
$46,508
per year
Hourly
$26.59
per hour
🏛️ Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
📅 Dataset: OES May 2025
🔄 Published: May 2026
📍 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
📊
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$30,173
25th Percentile — Junior$44,033
50th Percentile — Median$46,508
75th Percentile — Senior$75,218
90th Percentile — Top Earners$88,327
💡 Top-earning Photographers in Virginia make up to $88,327 per year. The job market in Virginia is rated very strong, with key industries including Government, Technology, Defense.
📈
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$47.7k
2021
$49.1k
2022
$50.6k
2023
$52.1k
2024
$53.7k
2025
$55.3k
2026
📈 Photographer salaries in Virginia have followed the national trend with 3.0% annual growth. The strong presence in Virginia's job market supports continued salary increases.
🗺️
Photographer Salary by City in Virginia
Geographic salary comparison
CityAvg Salaryvs NationalDemand
Virginia Beach $58,073 +5.0% Medium
Richmond $56,414 +2.0% Medium
🔍
Photographer Job Market in Virginia
Key factors affecting compensation

Virginia is home to a very strong job market for Photographers. The state's key industries — Government, Technology, Defense — generate significant demand for skilled professionals. At $55,308 per year, Virginia's Photographer salaries are 10.0% higher than the national average.

The cost of living in Virginia (index: 1.1) justifies the higher pay scale. Entry-level professionals in Virginia can expect to earn $30,173–$44,033, while experienced Photographers can command $75,218–$88,327.

Looking ahead, the Photographer profession in Virginia is projected to grow at 3.0% annually. Major employers are actively hiring, and the state's investment in Government continues to drive new opportunities for qualified candidates.

🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
⚖️
Compare with Similar Jobs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
  • The average Photographer salary in Virginia is $55,308 per year in 2026, which is 10.0% above the national average of $50,280.
  • Major metro areas typically pay Photographers the highest wages in Virginia due to higher costs of living and competitive job markets.
  • Virginia has a very strong job market with major industries in Government, Technology, Defense. This makes it one of the better states for Photographer employment.
  • At $55,308/year, Virginia Photographer salaries are 10.0% higher than the national average of $50,280/year.