Models pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $208,000 or more. The middle half of models in Rochester earn between $91,620 and $208,000.
- $47K10th
- $92K25th
- $208KMedian
- $208K75th
- $208K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $155,500 | $12,958 | $74.76 |
| Median | $208,000 | $17,333 | $100.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $91,620 | $7,635 | $44.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $208,000 | $17,333 | $100.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Models pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Models in Rochester earn 34% more than the New York average ($116,450) and 114% more than the U.S. average ($72,800). At the median the gap is +329% against the U.S. median of $48,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $155,500 | $208,000 | $46,790 | $208,000 | 50 |
| New York | $116,450 | $107,280 | $44,720 | $213,740 | n/a |
| 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 Rochester
On the average salary of $155,500, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $109,268 a year, or $9,106 a month and $4,203 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for models? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $155,500 buys what about $160,251 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 4.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 1.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Models salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 1st of 2 New York metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Rochester$155,500
- New York$109,200
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 Rochester: questions
How much do models make an hour in Rochester?
$74.76 an hour on average, and $100.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level models salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $91,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the models take-home pay in Rochester?
About $109,268 a year ($9,106 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $155,500. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do models earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 114% 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 Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 27.7%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.84, this job is 3.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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