Model salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a model is $57,200 per annum, before tax, up $12,000 since 2018.
Day rates vary widely with the client and the job: test shoots and small editorial work pay little or nothing, while national campaigns pay the most. Usage fees and buyouts, which cover how long and where the images can be used, can be worth more than the shoot day itself, and agency commission comes out of your fee before you are paid. Because bookings come and go, annual earnings depend on how much work you string together across the year.
Roles that pay more than model
The largest typical pay rise is $30,800 a year, moving into Actor.
- Actor+$30,800/yr
How to negotiate a higher model salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time model salary is $57,200; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Personal care services tend to command a premium over general model experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Actor pays a typical $30,800 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Model salary questions
How much do models earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a model is $57,200 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is model pay rising or falling?
The median model salary is up $12,000 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than model?
Actor pays a typical $30,800 a year more and draws on similar skills to model.