How much an international model earns isn't one number, it's a calculation with several lines, and most of those lines take away instead of adding. In a common season arrangement, the fee splits at around 50% for the model, 40% for the local agency and 10% for the mother agency, before flights, accommodation and currency exchange.
Below, each line of that calculation, with the numbers that actually exist in the contract.
How much an international model really earns
There's no fixed salary. There's gross and there's net, and the gap between the two scares anyone who only looks at the job fee.
A season can look great on paper and close thin after the deductions. That's why the right question isn't "how much do they pay", it's "how much is left".
A day of work has a price, but it's not every day
There's a day rate. A day of e-commerce or catalog pays anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars, depending on the brand and the type of job.
The detail nobody tells you: you don't work every day. There are full weeks and dead weeks. What matters is the volume over the season, not the rate of one single day.
Amounts vary by contract, market and brand. These are examples for guidance only, not a rate card.
The monthly guarantee and what it hides
Many season contracts come with a monthly guarantee: a minimum amount that comes in even in a slow month. It looks like a safety net, and in part it is.
It works as a floor for what's left. The advanced expenses (flight, apartment, transport, pocket money) come out of your share of what you bill. If the net is above the guarantee, you take the net; if it's below, you get the guarantee. Not every agency offers a guarantee, and it needs to be written into the contract.
Where the money goes before it reaches you
The job fee doesn't land in your account in full. In a common season arrangement, the gross is split between you, the local agency hosting you and the mother agency representing you.
An example split, for guidance only, comes to around 50% for the model, 40% for the local agency and 10% for the mother agency.
Percentages vary by contract and market. These are examples for guidance only.
Understanding this math before you sign saves you a shock when the statement comes.
Currency exchange eats a slice if you're not careful
You earn in CNY, EUR, USD or AED and spend or save in your home currency. Every badly done conversion takes a slice. Traditional banks and PayPal charge a high spread.
A multi-currency account at the real market rate gives that slice back. Many models use Wise exactly for this.
Seasons and direct bookings: two ways to earn
A season is volume and time in a market. A direct booking is a one-off job, shorter and usually better paid per day, without the long stay.
Both make sense at different stages of a career.
Inside Cosmos
Cosmos is a Brazilian mother agency based in Florianópolis (SC), and we've worked with more than 50 agencies across Asia, Europe and around the world. Here the conversation about money happens before the trip, not after.
A well-advised model flies knowing what's gross, what's net and what will be deducted. When applicable, our process includes explaining the contract in the model's language and going through the numbers of the deal before departure. If you've never traveled, you can start by understanding what to expect from a first season in China.
Send your measurements and three phone photos through Be Discovered.
Frequently asked questions
Some do, most make a good income in the right seasons. Treating it like a lottery leads to bad decisions. Treating it like seasonal work leads to planning.
It varies by contract and market. An example, for guidance only, is around 40% for the local agency and 10% for the mother agency, with the rest going to the model. Always confirm the percentages in the contract.
It depends on the contract. In many cases the local agency advances the cost and deducts it later from what you earn. Read that part carefully before you sign.
Almost always later. Season payments usually settle at the end or in installments, depending on the contract.
For an outside reference on ranges by market, databases like the ERI Economic Research Institute compile public data, always as an estimate.
This content is for information only. Always check with your agency and, when needed, a specialized lawyer.
