# Models

> Model garments or other apparel and accessories for prospective buyers at fashion shows, private showings, or retail establishments. May pose for photos to be used in magazines or advertisements. May pose as subject for paintings, sculptures, and other types of artistic expression.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/models
- SOC code: 41-9012.00
- Career family: Sales
- Median annual pay: $48,470 (10th percentile $34,190, 90th percentile $131,470)
- Projected growth: Decline, -2.1%
- Openings a year: 700
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ARE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 67 |
| Investigative (I) | 2 |
| Artistic (A) | 99 |
| Social (S) | 25 |
| Enterprising (E) | 45 |
| Conventional (C) | 21 |

## What you'd do

- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 86/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 63/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 54/100)
- Scheduling Work and Activities (importance 49/100)
- Getting Information (importance 46/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 41/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 39/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 36/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 32/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 32/100)

## Skills

Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Speaking, Coordination, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Negotiation, Persuasion

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Fine Arts, Transportation, Communications and Media, Administration and Management, Computers and Electronics, Public Safety and Security, Psychology, Administrative

## Also called

Agent Model, Art Class Model, Art Model, Artist's Model, Character Impersonator, Clothes Model, Fashion Model, Figure Model, Fine Arts Model, Fit Model

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5219) (CIP 5219, 189 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Saint Joseph's University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-joseph-s-university-2308) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $62,952 | $80,764 | $24,335 |
| [Northwood University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwood-university-1968) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $74,429 | $77,647 | $21,540 |
| [Marist College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/marist-college-1597) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $56,976 | $74,534 | $25,000 |
| [Fashion Institute of Technology FIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fashion-institute-of-technology-fit-942) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $55,547 | $70,727 | $19,500 |
| [Lasell University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lasell-university-1453) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $50,132 | $69,156 | $27,000 |
| [Baylor University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/baylor-university-194) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $52,622 | $67,066 | not reported |
| [LIM College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lim-college-1484) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $53,819 | $66,968 | $23,625 |
| [Texas Christian University TCU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-christian-university-tcu-2701) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $51,452 | $66,108 | $21,500 |

## Related careers

- [Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fine-artists-including-painters-sculptors-and-illustrators): $55,490 median pay
- [Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/makeup-artists-theatrical-and-performance): $97,150 median pay
- [Photographers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/photographers): $44,660 median pay
- [Costume Attendants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/costume-attendants): $50,400 median pay
- [Craft Artists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/craft-artists): $46,080 median pay
- [Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/camera-operators-television-video-and-film): $74,990 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.