Models Salary
The median pay for a models in Rochester, NY is $208,000/year ($100/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $208K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.03), that's roughly $214,367 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,573/month, or 13.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $208K get you in Rochester?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Rochester’s Regional Price Parity (97.03). 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 Rochester
Rochester sits well above the national pay line for models, local pay runs about 329% higher than the U.S. median of $48K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,573/month, 13.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.03) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Rochester offers a genuinely strong financial position for modelss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for models in metros near Rochester, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $107K | $95K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $34K | $33K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rochester, NY
Entry-level models (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $208K. Top earners bring in $208K or more, a $161K 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
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 Rochester numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rochester?
Yes — at the median salary of $208K, rent takes 13.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,573/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for models in Rochester?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new models typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,807/month. At HUD’s $1,573/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Rochester?
Local pay is 329% above the national median — $208K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Rochester compare to the national average for models?
Rochester pays $208K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +329%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $214K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do models make in Rochester, NY?
The median is $208,000 a year, that works out to about $100 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,790, and experienced models can clear $208,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $208K enough to live in Rochester?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,950/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,573/month, which eats 13.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a models salary go in Rochester?
Rochester has a Regional Price Parity of 97.03 (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 $214,367 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.