Photography Degree in Seattle, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Photography degree analysis for Seattle, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Seattle
Cost of Living
120
index (100 = avg)
Photography in Seattle, WA Overview
Seattle, Washington (pop. 737,015) has 16 colleges offering Photography programs. The local cost of living index of 120 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,508/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 Seattle is approximately $60,000.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$12,076/yr
Private Tuition
$49,119/yr
Room & Board
$18,145/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,675/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
68%
Photography Salary in Seattle (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Seattle's cost of living index of 120 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Photography salary: $50,000 starting, $52,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Seattle adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Photography ROI Calculator for Seattle
Estimate your return on investment for a Photography degree using local Seattle tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,076 | Private avg: $49,119
Seattle avg aid: $10,675/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$120,884
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,000
vs HS diploma in Seattle
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Seattle
$23,116
Lifetime earnings premium ($144,000) minus total education cost ($120,884)
Student Loan Payoff for Photography in Seattle
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Seattle for Photography
University of Washington
public
$12,076/yr
$48,304 total
Seattle University
private
$51,435/yr
$205,740 total
Seattle Pacific University
private
$46,803/yr
$187,212 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Seattle Central College
$4,479/yr
Top Employers for Photography in Seattle
Seattle offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Photography graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Seattle Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Photography Job Titles
Photography in Nearby Washington Cities
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$89K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$61K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Seattle
UX Design
$60K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$70K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$60K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$60K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$58K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$60K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$60K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$60K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Photography Degree in Seattle — 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 Seattle.