Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for makeup artists, theatrical and performance in the U.S. is $97,150 ($46.71 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $97,150
- Mean annual wage
- $102,240
- Median hourly wage
- $46.71
- Employment
- 2,340
2,340 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $23,360 | $11.23 |
| 25th percentile | $34,530 | $16.60 |
| Median (50th) | $97,150 | $46.71 |
| 75th percentile | $143,230 | $68.86 |
| 90th percentile | $167,470 | $80.51 |
Highest-paying states for makeup artists, theatrical and performance
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $143,230 | 200 |
| California | $140,870 | 830 |
| Louisiana | $129,580 | — |
| New York | $97,150 | 190 |
| District of Columbia | $95,730 | 60 |
| Florida | $82,400 | 250 |
Lowest-paying states
- Florida: $82,400 median annual wage
- District of Columbia: $95,730 median annual wage
- New York: $97,150 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $129,580 median annual wage
- California: $140,870 median annual wage
About this occupation
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
Typical tasks
- Select desired makeup shades from stock, or mix oil, grease, and coloring to achieve specific color effects.
- Confer with stage or motion picture officials and performers to determine desired effects.
- Demonstrate products to clients, and provide instruction in makeup application.
- Analyze a script, noting events that affect each character's appearance, so that plans can be made for each scene.
- Cleanse and tone the skin to prepare it for makeup application.
- Advise hairdressers on the hairstyles required for character parts.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Postsecondary certificate
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 6.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 34.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 28.4% |
| Associate's degree | 10.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 14.0% |
| Master's degree | 5.5% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.0% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.