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Models: Career Overview
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.
The Daily Work of Models Perform?
The core tasks performed by models span:
- Pose for artists and photographers.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective models combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Models Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- 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. This occupation is expected to grow by +5.6% over the projection horizon.
Models Pay
| 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 |
Wages vary widely 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 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for models differ across the country. 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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
Most 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 |
Models work in the following industries:
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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for models reflects the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Education and Training
Typical models positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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)
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from 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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