Rates, 2026
What should a model charge in a major city?
About $850 a day for a model who is working and booked in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin. $550 in the first years, $1,150 when senior. Also called: e-commerce model, fit model, lifestyle model.
Other markets: New York or LA · remote · a smaller market
First years
$550
a day · $70 an hour
Working, booked
$850
a day · $100 an hour
Senior, sought after
$1,150
a day · $150 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$850 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$100 per hour
Sold by the day, a project fee. The day is the unit; half days run 60%.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- E-commerce day$425 to $1,025 per day
- Half day$250 to $600 per half day
- Lifestyle or campaign day$675 to $2,125 per day
- Usage, 12 months digital50 to 100% of the day rate
- Print or out-of-home usage100 to 200% of the day rate
- Fit model, hourly$50 to $125 per hour
How the number is made
Models at this level in this market day at about $850 ($500 to $1,500 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a model in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin?
- About $850 a day for someone working and booked, $550 in the first years, $1,150 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
Pick your level and market, get a card you can send the next client who asks. Then RostrLab quotes, papers, invoices and chases every job with it: free for 14 days, $29 a month, never a cut.
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