Models Salary
The median pay for a models in Virginia is $45,720/year ($21.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $48,233 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,646/month, about 52.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
Where the paycheck goes
What $46K actually covers in Virginia, month by month
About models
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What this looks like in Virginia
Models pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,646/month, which is 53.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level models (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track models salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a model afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 53.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for models in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new models typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,197/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 75% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for models?
Virginia pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do models make in Virginia?
The median is $45,720 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,910, and experienced models can clear $48,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,055/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 53.9% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $48,233 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.