Models Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for models is $48,470, or $23.30 per hour. About 3,780 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $109,910 in Arizona to $15,080 in Georgia.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 16 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $109,910 | $52.84 | — | — |
| 2 | New York | $107,280 | $51.58 | — | — |
| 3 | New Jersey | $60,520 | $29.10 | — | — |
| 4 | California | $57,400 | $27.60 | 990 | 2.23 |
| 5 | Illinois | $53,280 | $25.62 | 60 | 0.38 |
| 6 | Maryland | $47,170 | $22.68 | 40 | 0.65 |
| 7 | Texas | $46,840 | $22.52 | — | — |
| 8 | Florida | $45,900 | $22.07 | 620 | 2.55 |
| 9 | Virginia | $45,720 | $21.98 | 40 | 0.35 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $45,060 | $21.66 | — | — |
| 11 | Oregon | $42,880 | $20.62 | 40 | 0.74 |
| 12 | Ohio | $42,550 | $20.46 | 120 | 0.85 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $41,600 | $20.00 | — | — |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $39,890 | $19.18 | — | — |
| 15 | Missouri | $34,610 | $16.64 | — | — |
| 16 | Georgia | $15,080 | $7.25 | 130 | 1.05 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do models make?
The median annual wage for models in the United States is $48,470, or $23.30 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $34,190, and the top 10% earn $131,470.
How many models are employed in the U.S.?
About 3,780 people work as models nationwide.
Which state pays models the most?
Arizona pays the most at a median of $109,910, followed by New York ($107,280) and New Jersey ($60,520).
Which state pays models the least?
Georgia has the lowest median at $15,080.
Where are models jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Florida at 2.55×.