Models Salary
The median pay for a models in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $53,700/year ($25.82/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $156K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $83K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $51,839 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 50.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $54K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About models
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin sits well above the national pay line for models, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $48K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,781/month, which is 50.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for models in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $35K | $36K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level models (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $156K or more, a $111K spread from bottom to top.
Models pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Models salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $110K | +127% | N/A |
| New York | $107K | +121% | N/A |
| New Jersey | $61K | +25% | N/A |
| California | $57K | +18% | 990 |
| Illinois | $53K | +10% | 60 |
| Maryland | $47K | -3% | 40 |
| Texas | $47K | -3% | N/A |
| Florida | $46K | -5% | 620 |
| Virginia | $46K | -6% | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $45K | -7% | N/A |
| Oregon | $43K | -12% | 40 |
| Ohio | $43K | -12% | 120 |
| Nebraska | $42K | -14% | N/A |
| New Hampshire | $40K | -18% | N/A |
| Missouri | $35K | -29% | N/A |
| Georgia | $15K | -69% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track models salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 50.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for models in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new models typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,720/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 65% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is model a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $54K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for models?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do models make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $53,700 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,330, and experienced models can clear $156,000. The mean (average) is $82,850, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,544/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 50.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a models salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median models salary is worth about $51,839 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do models get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.