Model Salary
Models earn a median $48,470 a year nationally. Sales and Related Occupations
U.S. median
$48,470
$23.30 per hour
Range
$34,190 – $131,470
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
3,780
across the U.S.
Model take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$41,126
per year · effective tax rate 15.2%
$3,427Monthly
$1,714Twice a month
$1,582Every 2 weeks
$19.77Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,636
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,005
- Medicare (1.45%)$703
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$41,126
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,190 | $16.44 | $29,652 |
| 25th percentile | $35,710 | $17.17 | $30,873 |
| Median (50th) | $48,470 | $23.30 | $41,126 |
| 75th percentile | $99,320 | $47.75 | $78,702 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,470 | $63.21 | $101,126 |
Model salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $109,910 | $83,613 | $35,050 – $109,920 | — |
| New York | $107,280 | $79,012 | $44,720 – $213,740 | — |
| New Jersey | $60,520 | $49,012 | $50,290 – $117,070 | — |
| California | $57,400 | $46,061 | $35,400 – $131,470 | 990 |
| Illinois | $53,280 | $42,498 | $36,450 – $156,000 | 60 |
| Maryland | $47,170 | $38,204 | $40,980 – $47,170 | 40 |
| Texas | $46,840 | $39,816 | $29,010 – $72,850 | — |
| Florida | $45,900 | $39,061 | $34,190 – $99,320 | 620 |
| Virginia | $45,720 | $37,101 | $31,910 – $48,820 | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $45,060 | $37,313 | $45,060 – $45,070 | — |
| Oregon | $42,880 | $33,712 | $33,450 – $45,720 | 40 |
| Ohio | $42,550 | $35,981 | $31,990 – $67,790 | 120 |
| Nebraska | $41,600 | $34,592 | $40,730 – $42,790 | — |
| New Hampshire | $39,890 | $34,232 | $35,080 – $46,840 | — |
| Missouri | $34,610 | $29,300 | $28,600 – $45,380 | — |
| Georgia | $15,080 | $13,767 | $15,080 – $55,790 | 130 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a model make?
The national median salary for models is $48,470 a year ($23.30 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,190 and the top 10% earn over $131,470. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays models the most?
Arizona has the highest median pay at $109,910.
How many models are there in the U.S.?
About 3,780 people work as models nationwide.