SOC 41-9012 · May 2025 · United States
Models
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Models across the United States is $48,470 per year, measured over 3,780 jobs. The highest state median is in Arizona, at $109,910.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -0.5%
- Openings per year
- 1,200
- Typical entry-level education
- No formal educational credential
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
16.3% of people in this occupation work for themselves.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Models
Pay for this occupation varies by 628.8% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Arizona pays $109,910 and Georgia pays $15,080.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $109,910 | — | |
| 2 | New York | $107,280 | — | |
| 3 | New Jersey | $60,520 | — | |
| 4 | California | $57,400 | 990 | |
| 5 | Illinois | $53,280 | 60 | |
| 6 | Maryland | $47,170 | 40 | |
| 7 | Texas | $46,840 | — | |
| 8 | Florida | $45,900 | 620 | |
| 9 | Virginia | $45,720 | 40 | |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $45,060 | — |
States with the most Models jobs
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester | $208,000 | 50 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $109,820 | 400 |
| 3 | New York | $107,280 | — |
| 4 | Miami | $99,320 | — |
| 5 | Anchorage | $81,520 | 40 |
| 6 | Chicago | $53,700 | 50 |
| 7 | Dallas | $51,150 | — |
| 8 | San Francisco | $48,570 | — |
| 9 | Washington | $47,170 | 30 |
| 10 | Providence | $45,060 | — |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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