Models Salary
The median models salary in the United States is $48,470 per year ($23.30/hour). Salaries range from $34,190 at the entry level to $131,470+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 3,780 models jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 0.5% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$48,470
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.30
per hour
Employment
3,780
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$34,190
25th percentile
$35,710
Median
$48,470
75th percentile
$99,320
90th percentile
$131,470
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-0.5%
Decline
Annual Openings
1,200
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
No formal educational credential
Models Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$15K$110K■ No data
Top Paying States
Arizona
$110K
+127%
New York
$107K
+121%
New Jersey
$61K
+25%
California
$57K
+18%
Illinois
$53K
+10%
Maryland
$47K
-3%
Texas
$47K
-3%
Florida
$46K
-5%
Virginia
$46K
-6%
Rhode Island
$45K
-7%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $109,910 | +126.8% |
| New York | $107,280 | +121.3% |
| New Jersey | $60,520 | +24.9% |
| California | $57,400 | +18.4% |
| Illinois | $53,280 | +9.9% |
| Maryland | $47,170 | -2.7% |
| Texas | $46,840 | -3.4% |
| Florida | $45,900 | -5.3% |
| Virginia | $45,720 | -5.7% |
| Rhode Island | $45,060 | -7.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 16
Models Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NY | $208,000 | +329.1% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $109,820 | +126.6% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $107,280 | +121.3% |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $99,320 | +104.9% |
| Anchorage, AK | $81,520 | +68.2% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $53,700 | +10.8% |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,150 | +5.5% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $48,570 | +0.2% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $47,170 | -2.7% |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $45,060 | -7.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 12
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A models earning $48,470/year would need 1230 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1320 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how models salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Models salary trend (2011–2024) →