Models Salary
The median pay for a models in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX is $51,150/year ($24.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $92K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.09), that's roughly $49,617 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,931/month, about 54.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $51K get you in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington’s Regional Price Parity (103.09). 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington
Models pay in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington tracks closely to the national median, $51K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,931/month, which is 53.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Entry-level models (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $128K 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model afford a 2BR apartment alone in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 53.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,931/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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new models typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,613/month. At HUD’s $1,931/month FMR, rent would take 74% 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $51K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington compare to the national average for models?
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do models make in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
The median is $51,150 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,550, and experienced models can clear $171,460. The mean (average) is $92,410, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,595/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,931/month, which eats 53.7% 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington?
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington has a Regional Price Parity of 103.09 (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 $49,617 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.