Model salary in the U.S.
Models in the U.S. earn a median of $48,470 a year ($23.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,470 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $72,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for models in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,190 | $16.44 |
| 25th percentile | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Median | $48,470 | $23.30 |
| 75th percentile | $99,320 | $47.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,470 | $63.21 |
| Average (mean) | $72,800 | $35.00 |
Half of models earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,039.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,019.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,864.23 |
| Weekly | $932.12 |
| Hourly | $23.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Model salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $109,910 | n/a |
| New York | $107,280 | n/a |
| New Jersey | $60,520 | n/a |
| California | $57,400 | 990 |
| Illinois | $53,280 | 60 |
| Maryland | $47,170 | 40 |
| Texas | $46,840 | n/a |
| Florida | $45,900 | 620 |
| Virginia | $45,720 | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $45,060 | n/a |
| Oregon | $42,880 | 40 |
| Ohio | $42,550 | 120 |
| Nebraska | $41,600 | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $39,890 | n/a |
| Missouri | $34,610 | n/a |
| Georgia | $15,080 | 130 |
Best-paying metro areas for models
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NY | $208,000 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $109,820 | 400 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $107,280 | n/a |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $99,320 | n/a |
| Anchorage, AK | $81,520 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $53,700 | 50 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,150 | n/a |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $48,570 | n/a |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $47,170 | 30 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $45,060 | n/a |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $34,610 | n/a |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34,330 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most models
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 400 | $109,820 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 50 | $53,700 |
| Rochester, NY | 50 | $208,000 |
| Anchorage, AK | 40 | $81,520 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 30 | $47,170 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $52,830 | $25.40 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $48,280 | $23.21 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $39,320 | $18.91 |
| Telemarketer | $35,450 | $17.04 |
| Sales Engineer | $124,900 | $60.05 |
| Real Estate Broker | $73,220 | $35.20 |
| Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,410 | $17.03 |
| Cashier | $32,880 | $15.81 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $69,990 | $33.65 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $72,080 | $34.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $48,520 | $23.33 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $78,660 | $37.82 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $62,280 | $29.94 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 41-9012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a model make in the U.S.?
The median salary for models in the U.S. is $48,470 a year, or $23.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid models make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of models in the U.S. earn at least $131,470 a year. The top 25% earn $99,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for models in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,190 a year, and a quarter of models earn $35,710 or less.
How many models work in the U.S.?
About 3,780 models are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.