Models: Career Profile
Model garments or other apparel and accessories for prospective buyers at fashion shows, private showings, or retail establishments. May pose for photos to be used in magazines or advertisements. May pose as subject for paintings, sculptures, and other types of artistic expression.
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What Tasks Do Models Perform?
Typical responsibilities of models cover:
- Pose for artists and photographers.
What Models Need to Know
Top models rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Models Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Agent Model
- Art Class Model
- Art Model
- Artist's Model
- Character Impersonator
- Clothes Model
- Fashion Model
- Figure Model
How Many Models Are There?
There are roughly 1,282,821 models working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +5.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Models Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $47,704 |
| Hourly median | $22.93 |
| 10th percentile | $33,342 |
| 25th percentile | $40,523 |
| 75th percentile | $54,885 |
| 90th percentile | $62,066 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $89,990 |
| California | $62,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,530 |
| Indiana | $51,570 |
| Alaska | $49,880 |
| Texas | $49,510 |
| Illinois | $46,960 |
| Maryland | $45,760 |
| Virginia | $44,860 |
| Florida | $44,510 |
| Ohio | $39,310 |
| New Jersey | $33,970 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for models shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $62,400 | 57.9% | 1.41 |
| Middle Atlantic | $55,176 | 9.9% | 0.52 |
| Southeast | $44,860 | 3.3% | 0.34 |
| Great Lakes | $40,266 | 26.3% | 1.62 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Models
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $89,990 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $66,310 | 600 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | PA | $52,140 | 80 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $50,760 | |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $49,780 | 60 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $49,510 | |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $45,760 | 50 |
| Cleveland, OH | OH | $44,080 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of models work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 1,210 | $43,310 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 560 | $46,870 |
| Information | 390 | $124,380 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 140 | $64,820 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 140 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where models work:
Tech Stack
- Operating system software: Apple iOS (hot technology)
- Internet browser software: Apple Safari (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for models tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
How to Become Models
Most models positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Art Directors (Supplemental)
- Craft Artists (Primary-Short)
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (Primary-Short)
- Special Effects Artists and Animators (Supplemental)
- Fashion Designers (Primary-Long)
- Graphic Designers (Supplemental)
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers (Supplemental)
- Set and Exhibit Designers (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Students preparing for models commonly pursue programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 41-9012.00 (Models).
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