Models Salary
The median pay for a models in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $34,330/year ($16.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.55), that's roughly $33,476 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,810/month, about 75.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $34K get you in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington’s Regional Price Parity (102.55). 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
Pay for models in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $48K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,810/month, which is 76% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.55) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for modelss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for models in metros near Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $107K | $95K |
| Rochester | $208K | $214K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Entry-level models (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $22K 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model afford a 2BR apartment alone in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 76% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,810/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for models in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new models typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,060/month. At HUD’s $1,810/month FMR, rent would take 88% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $34K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington compare to the national average for models?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $33K — below the national median.
How much do models make in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
The median is $34,330 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,330, and experienced models can clear $56,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,381/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,810/month, which eats 76% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.55 (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 $33,476 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.