Models: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Models fall under the Sales and Related category in the U.S. occupational classification. Models earn a median salary of $89,990 per year, ranking in the top 18% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.5% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do models earn?

The median annual wage for models is $89,990. That puts models at #147 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is models a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for models is -0.5%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 6K positions in 2024 to 6K in 2034, a net change of 0K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do models do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working models, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Pose for artists and photographers.

Top skills for models

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become model?

Many models enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Sales Engineers
  $121,520 median
• Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
  $100,070 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
  $84,130 median
• Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
  $78,140 median
• Real Estate Brokers
  $72,280 median
• Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
  $66,780 median

Common questions parents ask about models