How Much Do I Get Paid if I'm New to Modeling?
In the modeling world, people often are willing to pay expenses out of their own pocket and work for free in the hopes of making it big one day. Once you start finding paid jobs, you can make tens of thousands of dollars a year. However, finding work as a model can be so sporadic that most models usually hold jobs in other fields until they can find steady modeling work.
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Identification
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There is no standard starting pay in the modeling industry, and most jobs in this industry are not subject to minimum wage laws. Unpaid gigs are common in modeling, and people trying to break into the industry often take these gigs to help advance their career. For example, a model working pro bono might receive a DVD of his work to show to a potential client.
Typical Starting Pay
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Once you find a paying job, you can expect to start off anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per job, according to Fashion-Schools.org. However, it is extremely difficult to find consistent work in modeling. The typical full-time runway model takes home between $30,000 and $60,000. The average model earned $13.18 in May 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Scams
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Be on the lookout for scams, especially if someone approaches you with an offer out of the blue, warns the Federal Trade Commission. Many modeling schools lure in clients with promises of high pay but try to sell them expensive acting classes or photos -- called head shots in the modeling industry -- without any job guarantees. Check with the Better Business Bureau or your attorney general for complaints against a talent scout or agency.
Tip
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Consider holding a full-time job before dedicating your career to modeling. In general, only models in high demand can find consistent work. You also might look at unpaid modeling jobs that offer perks instead of pay. For example, a company might offer to pay for your travel expenses or give you clothing once you are finished with a shoot. Also, you might need to move to a more metropolitan area. Most runway modeling jobs, for example, are found in New York and Los Angeles, according to the BLS.
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