Models pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $156,000 or more. The middle half of models in Chicago earn between $45,330 and $156,000.
- $45K10th
- $45K25th
- $54KMedian
- $156K75th
- $156K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,850 | $6,904 | $39.83 |
| Median | $53,700 | $4,475 | $25.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,330 | $3,778 | $21.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $156,000 | $13,000 | $75.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Models pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Models in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($80,460) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($72,800). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $48,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $82,850 | $53,700 | $45,330 | $156,000 | 50 |
| Illinois | $80,460 | $53,280 | $36,450 | $156,000 | 60 |
| United States | $72,800 | $48,470 | $34,190 | $131,470 | 3,780 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Models salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $82,850, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $63,155 a year, or $5,263 a month and $2,429 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $64,659 | $5,388 |
| Working in IL | $63,155 | $5,263 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for models? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $82,850 buys what about $79,975 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Models salary in nearby metro areas
- St. Louis, MO$38,600
- Rochester, NY$155,500
- Washington, DC$46,570
- Philadelphia, PA$43,500
- New York, NY$109,200
- Dallas, TX$92,410
Highest-paying cities for models
Rochester, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($155,500).
- Rochester, NY$155,500
- Los Angeles, CA$111,390
- New York, NY$109,200
- Anchorage, AK$93,590
- Dallas, TX$92,410
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Models salary in Chicago: questions
How much do models make an hour in Chicago?
$39.83 an hour on average, and $25.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level models salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the models take-home pay in Chicago?
About $63,155 a year ($5,263 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,850.
Do models earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($72,800).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 41-9012; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 23.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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