California Median
$57,400
per year
Hourly Rate
$27.60
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+18% vs US median
US median $48,470
State Rank
#4 of 16
990 employed here
How much does a Model make in California?
A Model working in California earns a median salary of $57,400 per year, or about $27.60 per hour. That is 18% above the national median of $48,470 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $35,400 while the top 10% make $131,470 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $35,400 and $107,900 a year.
Model salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,400 | $17.02 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $35,400 | $17.02 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $57,400 | $27.60 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $107,900 | $51.88 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,470 | $63.21 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 4th out of 16 states and territories for Model pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Model salary in other states
Arizona $109,910New York $107,280New Jersey $60,520Illinois $53,280Maryland $47,170Texas $46,840Florida $45,900Virginia $45,720Rhode Island $45,060Oregon $42,880Ohio $42,550Nebraska $41,600New Hampshire $39,890Missouri $34,610Georgia $15,080
Working as a Model in California
Nationally, about 4,000 people work as Models in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($57,400) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Model make in California?
The median Model salary in California is $57,400 per year, or about $27.60 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $35,400 at the entry level to $131,470 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Models about 18% more than the national median of $48,470. California ranks 4th out of 16 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Models?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $57,400 a year. About 990 Models are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Model salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.