The average wage for a model in the United States is around $6.68 per hour.
Avg Wage
Models earn an average hourly wage of $6.68.
Salaries typically start from $4.46 per hour and go up to $10.00 per hour.
78% below national average Updated in 2023
Model earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level model earnings begin at:
$10.00 per hour
$20,794 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level model earnings begin at:
$8.26 per hour
$17,176 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level model earnings begin at:
$6.68 per hour
$13,889 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level model earnings begin at:
$5.40 per hour
$11,231 per year
10th percentile
Starting level model earnings begin at:
$4.46 per hour
$9,277 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Model salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $99,667 |
| New Jersey | $52,540 |
| Ohio | $45,660 |
| Texas | $38,930 |
| Oregon | $37,600 |
| Wisconsin | $37,590 |
| California | $37,380 |
| Florida | $35,680 |
| Maryland | $34,740 |
| New York | $34,720 |
| Washington | $34,000 |
| Idaho | $31,200 |
| Illinois | $29,610 |
| Virginia | $27,000 |
| Arizona | $26,050 |
| Massachusetts | $23,770 |
| Tennessee | $18,450 |
| Iowa | $18,200 |
How do model salaries compare to similar careers?
Models earn 24% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than cosmetologists but more than sewing machine operators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Cosmetologist salary | $26K |
| Sewer salary | $29K |
| Makeup artist salary | $20K |
| Esthetician salary | $21K |
| Hairdresser salary | $19K |
| Model salary | $14K |
| Nail technician salary | $9K |
| Sewing machine operator salary | $3K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)