Models Salary
The median pay for a models in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $48,570/year ($23.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $42,012 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,604/month, about 107.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont’s Regional Price Parity (115.61). 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
Models pay in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 0% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $3,604/month, which is 108.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 16% above the national average (BEA RPP 115.61), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for models in metros near San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $110K | $97K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level models (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $79K 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 108.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $3,604/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for models in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new models typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,059/month. At HUD’s $3,604/month FMR, rent would take 175% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont compare to the national average for models?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 115.61), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do models make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median is $48,570 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,320, and experienced models can clear $113,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,322/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month, which eats 108.5% 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (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 $42,012 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.