- Models earned a median hourly wage of $13.18 as of May 2008, according to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages earned by the middle 50 percent of models, regardless of who they worked for, ranged from $10.09 to $17.23 an hour. The bottom 10 percent of models earned $8.32 an hour. Top-paid models earned more than $21.10 an hour. Additionally, the Bureau reports that women who model generally earn higher wages than their male counterparts. Models tend to work fewer hours a week than people who fill jobs in other career fields.
- People who model for artists earn between $10 and $12 an hour as of 2008 if they model for artists enrolled in art or photography schools according to State University. However, if models pose for nude photos and high fashion sketches and photos at artists and photography schools they can earn between $12 and $15 an hour. More-experienced models who work for media outlets like magazines and newspapers can earn as much as $150 to $250 an hour. Additionally, some of these models can earn up to $500,000 a year. However, modeling careers only last about six to eight years. Regarding supermodels, the high pay and short career can allow them to enter other rewarding career fields. Supermodels can earn as much as $40 million to $50 million a year, according to The Cute Kid.
- Depending on the contracts they sign with agencies, wages earned by models can vary. For example, according to State University, fitting models -- models who wear outfits so designers can check how well the fashions fit on certain body types -- who work for agencies in New York City's garment district make between $50 to $100 an hour. Top fitting models can earn as much as $250 to $450 an hour if they land jobs through their agencies with major fashion houses. However, completing television commercials can help models to earn some of the highest wages, at $2,000 to $3,000 for one commercial. State University reports that it takes about eight hours for models to complete commercial shoots.
- Modeling jobs are expected to grow by 16 percent from 2008 through 2018, according to the Bureau. Working with advertisers in catalogs, magazines and newspapers is one way that models can increase the number of clients they work with and gain more exposure. Models can also work in fashion shows and walk runways to land jobs.
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