Models vs Retail Salespersons: $48K vs $35K Median Pay

Models vs Retail Salespersons: what changes?

Consider Models if you want to model garments or other apparel and accessories for prospective buyers at fashion shows, private showings, or retail establishments. Consider Retail Salespersons if you would rather sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers. Both list no formal educational credential; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Models and Retail Salespersons. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Models

National median pay (2025): $48,470
Route into the job: No formal educational credential
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Pose for artists and photographers.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 700

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 2.1% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Models brief

Retail Salespersons

National median pay (2025): $35,410
Route into the job: No formal educational credential; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 520,600

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 0.3% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Retail Salespersons brief

How the national numbers differ

Retail Salespersons has the edge on annual openings

Retail Salespersons is at 520,600 annual openings, compared with 700 annual openings for Models.

Models has the edge on median pay

Models is at $48,470, compared with $35,410 for Retail Salespersons.

Retail Salespersons has the edge on projected growth

Retail Salespersons is at -0.3% projected growth, compared with -2.1% projected growth for Models.

29.2/ 100

Models

49.2/ 100

Retail Salespersons

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence