Best cities for a professional model
The best cities for professional models are Lexington, KY, Seattle, WA, and Aurora, CO, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for professional models vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for professional models in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a professional model or considering a move, this list of the best cities for professional models to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for professional models. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a professional model. While the absolute best city for professional models is Lexington, KY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for professional models in 2024.
If you're looking for a professional model job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for professional models in 2025
1. Lexington, KY
Total professional model jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $225,286 Lowest 10 percent warn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $464,000 Location quotient: 19.31 2. Seattle, WA
Total professional model jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $235,037 Lowest 10 percent warn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $480,000 Location quotient: 10.67 3. Aurora, CO
Total professional model jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $211,170 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $448,000 Location quotient: 8.60 4. Minneapolis, MN
Total professional model jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $268,728 Lowest 10 percent warn: $133,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $539,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Denver, CO
Total professional model jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $211,363 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $449,000 Location quotient: 3.55 6. Saint Paul, MN
Total professional model jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $268,544 Lowest 10 percent warn: $133,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $539,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Madison, WI
Total professional model jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $235,591 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $478,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Milwaukee, WI
Total professional model jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $234,871 Lowest 10 percent warn: $115,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $477,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Louisville, KY
Total professional model jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $225,596 Lowest 10 percent warn: $109,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $465,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. New York, NY
Total professional model jobs: 209 Average annual salary: $205,319 Lowest 10 percent warn: $99,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $425,000 Location quotient: 179.33
Best cities for professional models
- Lexington, KY
- Seattle, WA
- Aurora, CO
- Minneapolis, MN
- Denver, CO
- Saint Paul, MN
- Madison, WI
- Milwaukee, WI
- Louisville, KY
- New York, NY
- (2 professional model jobs)
- (15 professional model jobs)
- (2 professional model jobs)
- (0 professional model jobs)
- (5 professional model jobs)
- (0 professional model jobs)
- (0 professional model jobs)
- (0 professional model jobs)
- (0 professional model jobs)
- (209 professional model jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a professional model
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington, KY | $225,286 | $109,000 | 318,449 | 2 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $235,037 | $114,000 | 704,352 | 15 |
| 3 | Aurora, CO | $211,170 | $99,000 | 361,710 | 2 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $268,728 | $133,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $211,363 | $99,000 | 693,060 | 5 |
| 6 | Saint Paul, MN | $268,544 | $133,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 7 | Madison, WI | $235,591 | $115,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $234,871 | $115,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 9 | Louisville, KY | $225,596 | $109,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 10 | New York, NY | $205,319 | $99,000 | 8,537,673 | 209 |
| 11 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $186,800 | $82,000 | 260,999 | 2 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $212,560 | $103,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $191,712 | $93,000 | 855,164 | - |
| 14 | Fort Wayne, IN | $200,106 | $97,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 15 | Orlando, FL | $190,896 | $84,000 | 277,173 | 2 |
| 16 | Omaha, NE | $189,582 | $91,000 | 446,970 | - |
| 17 | Portland, OR | $203,535 | $96,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $198,278 | $96,000 | 2,704,958 | 2 |
| 19 | Boston, MA | $207,268 | $96,000 | 673,184 | 2 |
| 20 | Jacksonville, FL | $199,529 | $90,000 | 880,619 | - |
| 21 | Toledo, OH | $157,388 | $77,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 22 | Colorado Springs, CO | $207,074 | $98,000 | 465,101 | - |
| 23 | Lincoln, NE | $185,284 | $88,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 24 | Winston-Salem, NC | $177,538 | $85,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 25 | Buffalo, NY | $215,112 | $103,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 26 | Raleigh, NC | $177,032 | $85,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 27 | Durham, NC | $177,760 | $86,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 28 | Greensboro, NC | $177,662 | $86,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 29 | Tampa, FL | $187,867 | $83,000 | 377,165 | - |
| 30 | Brookhaven, NY | $205,892 | $98,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 31 | Anchorage, AK | $192,820 | $107,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 32 | Oyster Bay, NY | $205,770 | $99,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 33 | Islip, NY | $205,435 | $98,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 34 | Hempstead, NY | $205,195 | $98,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 35 | Sacramento, CA | $195,509 | $96,000 | 495,234 | 2 |
| 36 | Charlotte, NC | $172,969 | $82,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 37 | Washington, DC | $219,696 | $107,000 | 681,170 | - |
| 38 | Newark, NJ | $192,952 | $93,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 39 | Tulsa, OK | $145,441 | $70,000 | 403,090 | 5 |
| 40 | Jersey City, NJ | $192,866 | $93,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 41 | Wichita, KS | $163,881 | $79,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 42 | Hialeah, FL | $175,297 | $73,000 | 236,387 | - |
| 43 | Miami, FL | $174,735 | $73,000 | 453,579 | - |
| 44 | Baltimore, MD | $194,572 | $95,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 45 | Cleveland, OH | $154,802 | $75,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 46 | Las Vegas, NV | $146,892 | $71,000 | 632,912 | 5 |
| 47 | San Francisco, CA | $193,034 | $95,000 | 870,887 | 5 |
| 48 | Saint Louis, MO | $168,335 | $81,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 49 | Los Angeles, CA | $178,081 | $86,000 | 3,976,322 | 24 |
| 50 | Kansas City, MO | $166,095 | $80,000 | 481,420 | - |
Highest paying cities for professional models
| Rank | City | Avg. professional model salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $235,037 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $211,363 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $207,268 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $205,319 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $198,278 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $193,034 |
| 7 | Fairbanks, AK | $192,769 |
| 8 | Edison, NJ | $192,107 |
| 9 | Orlando, FL | $190,896 |
| 10 | Morrisville, NC | $177,154 |
| 11 | Toledo, OH | $157,388 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $146,892 |
| 13 | Tulsa, OK | $145,441 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $140,927 |
| 15 | Plano, TX | $139,207 |
| 16 | McLean, VA | $133,951 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh, PA | $133,942 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $124,862 |
| 19 | Baton Rouge, LA | $116,088 |
| 20 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $108,251 |
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Updated January 8, 2025