Photographers salary in San Jose, CA
The median photographers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA earns $52,470 a year, 17% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $3,389 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $40,610
- 25th percentile
- $42,760
- Median percentile
- $52,470
- 75th percentile
- $80,950
- 90th percentile
- $127,560
Based on 210 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.
What you keep
$40,667 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $52,470 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,116 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,014 |
| California income tax (approx.) | −$3,673 |
| Monthly take-home | $3,389 |
| Every two weeks | $1,564 |
Does it go far here?
$47,517Median pay in San Jose, CA is worth this at average US prices (local price level 110.4 vs 100).
84%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,840 a month, Census ACS).
Top-paying jobs in San Jose, CA
| Job | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $351,760 |
| Lawyers | $301,320 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $291,660 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $263,810 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $234,590 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $231,560 |
| Marketing Managers | $231,370 |
| Training and Development Managers | $230,020 |