The Earnings Landscape for “New Face” Models in NYC, 2025
Brooklyn’s skyline might glint with possibility, but for the “new face” stepping onto the streets of New York City in 2025, turning that possibility into a paycheck is a journey shaped by type of work, agency relationships, and the rising influence of ‘social currency.’ Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what entry-level models can realistically expect to earn—and pay—on their path to becoming the next big muse.
Annual Earnings
Newcomers to New York’s modeling scene typically see annual earnings between $30,000 and $50,000, depending on bookings and consistency of work. This contrasts with the city’s overall fashion-model average of about $65,431 per year as of January 1, 2025 . For a model just beginning to build her book and network, that $30K–$50K band reflects part-time or mixed-gig calendars—editorial one week, catalog the next—while more seasoned pros push comfortably past the $65K mark.
Hourly and Monthly Rates
When you break it down by the hour, “new face” rates can start remarkably low—often around $20 per hour for unpaid portfolio shoots—but quickly climb once a name or look gains traction. Editorial shoots for big magazines may pay up to $100 per hour for those showing strong promise, while first-year runway or look-book gigs in New York often start at about $250 per hour . Catalogs—where consistency matters—tend to offer a different rhythm: many newcomers earn around $5,000 per month once they secure regular bookings, with a handful of key relationships boosting that to $7,000–$11,000 monthly .
Daily Rates
Daily rates reflect similar variability. Editorial work for lesser-known faces typically falls between $100 and $500 per day, while top placements—even for emerging models—can command $1,000–$2,000 daily . Catalog and e-commerce jobs often pay $100–$250 per hour, translating to $800–$2,000 for a standard eight-hour day, with established catalog talents sometimes exceeding $2,500 in a single session .
Deductions and Investments
But gross pay isn’t net take-home. Agency commissions run 10–20% on every booking, and mother-agency or international split fees can tack on another 5–10% . Add to that self-funded costs—professional portfolios, comp cards, travel, styling, and website maintenance—and a significant portion of that first $30K–$50K can vanish before taxes. Many models reinvest earnings just to stay competitive, making the “investment into oneself” both literal and spiritual.
In this crucible of creativity, remember that modeling is as much about resilience and relationships as it is about rates. New faces thrive by nurturing agency trust, adapting to the ebb and flow of bookings, and leaning into their unique spirit—because in New York, authenticity is the true luxury clients pay to capture.
