Models Salary
The median pay for a models in New Jersey is $60,520/year ($29.1/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $117K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $60,922 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 52.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of New Jersey. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $61K get you in New Jersey?
About models
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for models, local pay runs about 25% 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 $2,067/month, which is 50.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level models (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $117K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track models salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 50.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for models in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new models typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,017/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 69% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $61K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for models?
New Jersey pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do models make in New Jersey?
The median is $60,520 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,290, and experienced models can clear $117,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,068/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 50.8% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median models salary is worth about $60,922 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.