41 Series · SOC 41-9012
Models Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $48,470
- Median / year
- $131,470
- Top 10% earn
- -0.5%
- Growth '23–'33
- 3,780
- US workers
Models earn a median of $48,470 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $48,470, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $34,190 (10th percentile) to $131,470 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 3,780 US workers. Arizona pays the most ($109,910), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Models earn a median of $48,470, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 29% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Sales and Related, it ranks #13 of 22 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 0.5% by 2033.
- $48,470
- Median annual wage
- Top 71%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #13 of 22
- in Sales and Related
- 3.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Arizona at $109,910. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Models (SOC 41-9012) pays a national median of $48,470 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $34,190 at the 10th percentile to $131,470 at the 90th, with a mean of $72,800 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 3,780 Americans work in this occupation across 16 reporting states and 12 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -0.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.8 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Arizona pays the highest state median at $109,910, which is +127% above the national figure. The top metro is Rochester, NY at $208,000 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$48,470
per year
Median Hourly
$23.30/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$72,800
average
Employment
3,780
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Models pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$48,470 Bottom 29% higher than 29% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 41-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Models; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 21 41-series occupations with growth data, Models sits on the slower-growing side at -0.5% growth and $48,470 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-0.5%
Declining
Annual Openings
1,200
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.8/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.9/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Models roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Record rates of pay and durations of jobs on vouchers.
- ▸ Pose for artists and photographers.
- ▸ Gather information from agents concerning the pay, dates, times, provisions, and lengths of jobs.
- ▸ Report job completions to agencies and obtain information about future appointments.
- ▸ Assemble and maintain portfolios, print composite cards, and travel to go-sees to obtain jobs.
- ▸ Pose as directed, or strike suitable interpretive poses for promoting and selling merchandise or fashions during appearances, filming, or photo sessions.
- ▸ Follow strict routines of diet, sleep, and exercise to maintain appearance.
- ▸ Apply makeup to face and style hair to enhance appearance, considering such factors as color, camera techniques, and facial features.
- ▸ Work closely with photographers, fashion coordinators, directors, producers, stylists, make-up artists, other models, and clients to produce the desired looks, and to finish photo shoots on schedule.
- ▸ Dress in sample or completed garments, and select accessories.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$34,190
25th Percentile
$35,710
Median
$48,470
75th Percentile
$99,320
90th Percentile
$131,470
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 16 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $109,910 | +127% above national |
| 2 | New York | $107,280 | +121% above national |
| 3 | New Jersey | $60,520 | +25% above national |
| 4 | California | $57,400 | +18% above national |
| 5 | Illinois | $53,280 | +10% above national |
| 6 | Maryland | $47,170 | 3% below national |
| 7 | Texas | $46,840 | 3% below national |
| 8 | Florida | $45,900 | 5% below national |
| 9 | Virginia | $45,720 | 6% below national |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $45,060 | 7% below national |
| 11 | Oregon | $42,880 | 12% below national |
| 12 | Ohio | $42,550 | 12% below national |
| 13 | Nebraska | $41,600 | 14% below national |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $39,890 | 18% below national |
| 15 | Missouri | $34,610 | 29% below national |
| 16 | Georgia | $15,080 | 69% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 12 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester, NY | $208,000 | +329% above national |
| 2 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $109,820 | +127% above national |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $107,280 | +121% above national |
| 4 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $99,320 | +105% above national |
| 5 | Anchorage, AK | $81,520 | +68% above national |
| 6 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $53,700 | +11% above national |
| 7 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $51,150 | +6% above national |
| 8 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $48,570 | same as national |
| 9 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $47,170 | 3% below national |
| 10 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $45,060 | 7% below national |
| 11 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $34,610 | 29% below national |
| 12 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34,330 | 29% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 41 (sales) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Models pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $99,320/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Arizona leads at $109,910/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.