Model salary in California
Models in California earn a median of $57,400 a year ($27.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 990 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,470 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $48,470. California ranks 4th of 16 states for models pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.05 models per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $72,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for models in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| 25th percentile | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| Median | $57,400 | $27.60 |
| 75th percentile | $107,900 | $51.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,470 | $63.21 |
| Average (mean) | $72,810 | $35.01 |
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 | $4,783.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,391.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,207.69 |
| Weekly | $1,103.85 |
| Hourly | $27.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Model salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $109,820 | 400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $48,570 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for models
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $109,910 |
| New York | $107,280 |
| New Jersey | $60,520 |
| California | $57,400 |
| Illinois | $53,280 |
| Maryland | $47,170 |
| Texas | $46,840 |
| Florida | $45,900 |
| Virginia | $45,720 |
| Rhode Island | $45,060 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $52,810 | $25.39 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $57,560 | $27.68 |
| Real Estate Broker | $80,450 | $38.68 |
| Sales Engineer | $139,160 | $66.90 |
| Telemarketer | $46,000 | $22.12 |
| Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| Retail Salesperson | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Cashier | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $80,850 | $38.87 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $76,490 | $36.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $54,870 | $26.38 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $79,730 | $38.33 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for models in California is $57,400 a year, or $27.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid models make in California?
The top 10% of models in California earn at least $131,470 a year. The top 25% earn $107,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for models in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,400 a year, and a quarter of models earn $35,400 or less.
How many models work in California?
About 990 models are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.