Models

Earnings for models vary according to experience and depend on the number, length, and type of assignments he or she receives. Salaried models earned a median annual salary of $47,430 a year in May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $31,680 annually, while the highest paid 10 percent earned an annual salary of $140,310. Top models have the potential to earn much more. Female models working for agencies make $75 to $200 or more per hour. Hourly wages are higher for photographic models working in large metropolitan cities such as New York, Miami, Los Angeles, or Chicago and for models who are in great demand. Top photographic models signed to exclusive contracts with cosmetic firms may earn $1 million or more per year. Male models generally earn less than their female counterparts, for similar work. Almost all models work with agents and pay 15 to 20 percent of their earnings in return for an agent's services.

Models who appear in television commercials are paid according to the fee schedules set up by the union SAG-AFTRA. Models who speak earn more than those who do not. In addition, they receive a fee called a residual whenever the commercial is aired.

Fashion models who are employed by department stores are called floor models. They work only for special promotions at the store and earn the same salary as sales-people. The rate of pay may be about $25 an hour, depending on the size and location of the store and the quality and cost of the merchandise. The wages vary for models who work for advertising agencies; hourly rates depend on the product and the budget. The more versatile the model, the greater the opportunity for employment.

Because they are seldom employed full time, instead earning a high hourly fee on an occasional basis, photographic models may not always have enough money to maintain themselves between jobs. They may find it necessary to seek other kinds of work on a temporary basis. Because it is essential that they have outstanding wardrobes, they frequently work at part-time jobs to buy the necessary clothes for their assignments. Models occasionally receive clothing or clothing discounts instead of, or in addition to, regular earnings.

The only full-time employment for models usually is as a spokesperson for a store or company. Full-time models usually receive up to two or three weeks of vacation per year. The perks of being a fashion model include the chance to wear beautiful clothes, look your best, and be groomed by photographers, designers, artists, and hair and makeup professionals. Some models travel to exciting places and meet interesting and famous people; a very few may even attain celebrity status. Indeed, today's fashion and cosmetics supermodels have achieved a celebrity status that formerly was the exclusive domain of movie stars. Historically, the industry favors youth, but agencies are now using older models more often and the age barrier seems to be coming down. Young people who hope to become models, however, should approach the career with the understanding that competition is keen and that it may take years of work to attain success. But even the beginner, on a local level, can make enough money to make this career worthwhile.