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Role hub · Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

Makeup Artist: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

The work, the skills that matter, the tools in demand and the pay range, from U.S. government data, plus every TryHired page for the role.

Maid DizdarevicCareer coach · 8x LinkedIn Top Voice
Updated Nov 2, 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · O*NET 31.0
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Median percentile pay

Half of makeup artists earn more than this and half earn less.

Annual
$97,150
Hourly
$46.71
Source
BLS May 2025
Quick answer

Makeup Artists apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role. The median pay is $97,150 a year ($46.71 an hour) (BLS, May 2025). The most commonly reported education requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent (33% of workers surveyed by O*NET).

Median pay
$97,150
BLS May 2025
Employed in the U.S.
2,340
BLS May 2025
Preparation
Job Zone 3 of 5
medium preparation
Most common education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
33% of workers

Data Government data groups this job as Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance (O*NET-SOC 39-5091.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

Key facts

Makeup Artists at a glance

  • Workers in the BLS occupation “Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance” in the United States earned a median annual wage of $97,150 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

  • In its 2025–35 employment projections, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry-level education for workers in the BLS occupation “Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance” in the United States.

    Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35

  • BLS projects employment of workers in the BLS occupation “Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance” in the United States to grow 6.1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 600 openings a year on average, including replacement openings.

    Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35

  • BLS estimated that 2,340 people were employed in the BLS occupation “Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance” in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.

    Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

Explore the role

Every page for Makeup Artists

How to becomeMakeup Artist how to become

Education, training and the skills to build first.

Open →ResumeMakeup Artist resume

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The work

What makeup artists do day to day

Data Core tasks rated most important by workers in the role (O*NET).

  1. Clean supplies such as makeup brushes.
  2. Duplicate work precisely to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis.
  3. Apply makeup to enhance or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies.
  4. Analyze a script, noting events that affect each character's appearance, so that plans can be made for each scene.
  5. Alter or maintain makeup during productions as necessary to compensate for lighting changes or to achieve continuity of effect.
  6. Confer with stage or motion picture officials and performers to determine desired effects.
  7. Requisition or acquire needed materials for special effects, including wigs, beards, and special cosmetics.
  8. Study production information, such as character descriptions, period settings, and situations, to determine makeup requirements.
Where this career works

Industries that employ it

Data Share of all makeup artist jobs in each industry, 2025 (BLS Employment Matrix).

  1. Motion picture and sound recording industries23.9% of all jobs in this occupation · +7.4% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $138,800
  2. Professional, scientific, and technical services4.6% of all jobs in this occupation · +0.5% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $85,420
  3. Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries3.2% of all jobs in this occupation · +6.8% projected change here 2025–35
  4. Broadcasting and Content Providers2.2% of all jobs in this occupation · +1.2% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $84,730
  5. Administrative and support services1.9% of all jobs in this occupation · -1.9% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $133,980
  6. Educational services; state, local, and private1.7% of all jobs in this occupation · +2.0% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $41,470

Sources: BLS 2025–35 National Employment Matrix (share of the occupation's jobs, projected change) and BLS OEWS May 2025 industry estimates (mean wage). Different industry estimates are not a pay forecast for any person.

Skills that matter

Ranked by importance to the job

Data O*NET importance ratings. The first three are core.

SpeakingcoreReading ComprehensioncoreActive ListeningcoreJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingCoordinationActive LearningMonitoringSocial Perceptiveness

Knowledge areas: Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Fine Arts, Design, Communications and Media.

Tools and technology

Software makeup artists use

Data Examples reported for the role; employer demand flags from O*NET.

  • Adobe PhotoshopGraphics or photo imaging softwareHot technology
  • FacebookWeb page creation and editing softwareHot technology
  • Autodesk MayaGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Autodesk MudboxGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Blogging softwareWeb page creation and editing software
  • DatInf DigiMakeupGraphics or photo imaging software
  • InstagramWeb page creation and editing software
  • Pixologic ZbrushGraphics or photo imaging software
  • SavingFaceGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Intuit QuickBooksAccounting softwareHot technology
  • Microsoft ExcelSpreadsheet softwareHot technology
  • Microsoft Office softwareOffice suite softwareHot technology

Also called: Commercial Makeup Artist (Commercial MUA), Hair and Makeup Designer, Makeup Artist (MUA), Prosthetic Makeup Designer, Special Effects Makeup Artist (Special Effects MUA), Special Makeup Effects Artist.

Method

How this page is built

Tasks, skills, tools, education and related roles come from O*NET 31.0. Pay and employment come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates. The skill-match score is our calculation: Skill match is the cosine similarity of the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level and subtract the average across all occupations, then compare the direction of the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 means unrelated or opposite (negative values are shown as 0). Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared.

What this page can't tell you
  • How a specific employer defines the job.
  • Pay for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
  • Your own chances: data describes the occupation, not you.
Sources
  1. O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).

How TryHired builds this data: sources, methods and downloads. Spotted an error? Report a correction.