Career Explorer Sales
Changing shape
Models
Model garments or other apparel and accessories for prospective buyers at fashion shows, private showings, or retail establishments. May pose for photos to be used in magazines or advertisements. May pose as subject for paintings, sculptures, and other types of artistic expression.
Among the careers AI is changing fastest: more resilient than 16% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by -2.1% by 2035, expected to shrink.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $48,470
- Job growth to 2035
- -2.1%
- Openings a year
- 700
- People doing it (2025)
- 4,200
- Usual route in
- No formal credential
Where people already use AI for this work
- Promote products, services, or programs
- Communicate with others about operational plans or activities
- Gather data about operational or development activities
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets
- Operate transportation equipment or vehicles
What the work looks like
- Record rates of pay and durations of jobs on vouchers.
- Pose for artists and photographers.
- Gather information from agents concerning the pay, dates, times, provisions, and lengths of jobs.
- Report job completions to agencies and obtain information about future appointments.
- Assemble and maintain portfolios, print composite cards, and travel to go-sees to obtain jobs.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects
- Fewer of these jobs, as the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated models grows, reducing the need for models.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Painting, coating, and decorating workersHuman edge, steady, Index 55, +1.3%
- Cooks, short orderHuman edge, steady, Index 30, -5.2%
- DancersHuman edge, steady, Index 76, +2.2%
- Landscaping and groundskeeping workersHuman edge, growing, Index 79, +4.7%
Also known as: Art Model, Artist's Model, Figure Model, Model, Art Class Model, Fine Arts Model, Life Drawing Model, Nude Model.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.