Modeling Artist Salary in the United States

How much does a Modeling Artist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Modeling Artist in the United States is $66,202 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, a Modeling Artist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,880
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $58,643 to $71,791
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,761

Key Factors That Influence Modeling Artist Salaries

A Modeling Artist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Modeling Artist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Modeling Artist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $53,711
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $67,777
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $82,246
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $94,105
  • Expert (over 8 years): $117,949
Levels Salary
Claims Ex... Level Modeling Artist$53,711
Modeling ... Level Modeling Artist$67,777
Claims Ex... Level Modeling Artist$82,246
Claims Ex... Level Modeling Artist$94,105
Claims Ex... Level Modeling Artist$117,949

How Do Modeling Artist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Modeling Artists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $73,299.
  • California: $73,021.
  • Massachusetts: $72,048.

Top Paying Cities for Modeling Artists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $83,501
  • San Francisco: $82,586
  • Oakland: $80,846

What Skills Can Increase a Modeling Artist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.81% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Claim Handling (Mentioned in 3.21% Job Postings): involved in managing a claim from the start through to settlement, making decisions on the extent and validity of a claim, and checking for any potential fraudulent activity.
  • Technical Skills (Mentioned in 1.89% Job Postings): Technical skills are the specialized knowledge and expertise required to perform specific tasks and use specific tools and programs in real world situations.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.81%
Claim Handling 3.21%
Technical Skills 1.89%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Modeling Artist's salary.

  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Agility: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Mediation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coordination $70,174
6%
Agility $70,174
6%
Mediation $70,174
6%

Modeling Artist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Modeling Artist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Business Services and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Modeling Artist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Financial Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Modeling Artist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Modeling Artist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Business Services$79,443$38.020%
Energy & Utilities$76,132$37.015%
Healthcare$72,822$35.010%
Retail & Wholesale$69,512$33.05%

How Education impacts a Modeling Artist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Modeling Artists enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Modeling Artist with a Associate's Degree is between $65,005 and $69,385).

Modeling Artist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Modeling Artist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 29.3%
High School 29.3%
Associates 9.1%
Bachelors 46.3%
Masters 8.5%
Doctorate 6.7%

Modeling Artist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Modeling Artist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$58,643
Average $66,202/year
$71,791
$4,887
Average $5,517/month
$5,983
$1,128
Average $1,273/week
$1,381
$28
Average $32/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $71,791 $5,983 $1,381 $35
Average $66,202 $5,517 $1,273 $32
25th Percentile $58,643 $4,887 $1,128 $28

Most common benefits for Modeling Artist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Modeling Artist

Here are companies hiring for Modeling Artist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Modeling Artist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Modeling Artist?

The Business Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Modeling Artist roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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