Model Designer Salary in the United States

How much does a Model Designer make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Model Designer in the United States is $81,052 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,417
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $69,713 to $87,524
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $59,389
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View as table View as graph 25% $69,713 10% $59,389 90% $93,417 75% $87,524 $81,052 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Model Designer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $87,524 $7,294 $1,683 $42
Average $81,052 $6,754 $1,559 $39
25th Percentile $69,713 $5,809 $1,341 $34

Key Factors That Influence Model Designer Salaries

A Model Designer'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 Model Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Model Designer'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): $80,576
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $107,031
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $126,557
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $140,446
  • Expert (over 8 years): $161,663
Levels Salary
Model Des... Level Model Designer$80,576
Data Arch... Level Model Designer$107,031
Data Arch... Level Model Designer$126,557
Data Arch... Level Model Designer$140,446
Data Arch... Level Model Designer$161,663
$80,576 0 yr
$107,031 < 2 yrs
$126,557 2-4 yrs
$140,446 5-8 yrs
$161,663 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Model Designer 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 Model Designers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $89,741.
  • California: $89,400.
  • Massachusetts: $88,209.

Top Paying Cities for Model Designers

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: $102,231
  • San Francisco: $101,111
  • Oakland: $98,980

What Skills Can Increase a Model Designer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 3.96% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Modeling (Mentioned in 3.39% Job Postings): Data modeling in software engineering is the process of creating a data model for an information system by applying certain formal techniques.
  • Data Warehousing (Mentioned in 2.3% Job Postings): Data warehouse (DW or DWH), also known as an enterprise data warehouse (EDW), is a system used for reporting and data analysis and is considered a core component of business intelligence.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 3.96%
Data Modeling 3.39%
Data Warehousing 2.3%
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 Model Designer's salary.
  • Team Building: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Data Integration: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Partnering: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Team Building
$89,967
11%
Data Integration
$89,157
10%
Partnering
$88,346
9%
Data Modeling
$87,536
8%
Data Science
$87,536
8%
Team Development
$86,725
7%
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Model Designer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Model Designer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 65% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Model Designer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Model Designer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Model Designer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$113,473$55.040%
Financial Services$105,367$51.030%
Software & Networking$101,315$49.025%
Biotechnology$97,262$47.020%
Internet$93,210$45.015%

How Education impacts a Model Designer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Model Designers 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 Model Designer with a Associate's Degree is between $83,872 and $88,128).

Model Designer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Model Designer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 10.6%
Associates 8.8%
Bachelors 51.3%
Masters 26.5%
Doctorate 1.8%
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Model Designer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Model Designer'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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Model Designer

Salaries for a Model Designer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $82,907 in 2023 to around $80,747 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Model Designer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Model Designer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$82,907
2024
$82,669
2025
$80,747
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $82,907
2024 $82,669
2025 $80,747
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Model Designer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Model Designer

Here are companies hiring for Model Designer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Model Designer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Model Designer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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FAQ about Model Designer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Model Designer?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Model Designer roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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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