Photography Degree in Madison, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Photography degree analysis for Madison, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$46K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Madison
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Photography in Madison, WI Overview
Madison, Wisconsin (pop. 269,840) has 11 colleges offering Photography programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $902/month. Although national enrollment in Photography has been declining, graduates with skills in Lighting and Post-Processing remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Madison is approximately $44,500.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$10,725/yr
Private Tuition
$33,350/yr
Room & Board
$11,942/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,815/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
73%
Photography Salary in Madison (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Madison's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Photography salary: $50,000 starting, $52,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Madison adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Photography ROI Calculator for Madison
Estimate your return on investment for a Photography degree using local Madison tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,725 | Private avg: $33,350
Madison avg aid: $15,815/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,668
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,350
vs HS diploma in Madison
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Madison
$16,132
Lifetime earnings premium ($106,800) minus total education cost ($90,668)
Student Loan Payoff for Photography in Madison
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Madison for Photography
University of Wisconsin-Madison
public
$10,725/yr
$42,900 total
Edgewood College
private
$33,350/yr
$133,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Madison Area Technical College
$4,632/yr
Top Employers for Photography in Madison
Madison offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Photography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Madison Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Photography Job Titles
Photography in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$47K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$53K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$43K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$40K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$45K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$54K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Madison
UX Design
$45K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$45K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$45K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$45K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$45K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$45K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Photography Degree in Madison — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Photography ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Madison.