How much does a makeup artist make?
a year · about $47 an hour
A typical makeup artist in the United States makes $97,150 a year, about $47 an hour, about 1.9× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They study the script and plan each character’s look, then prepare makeup, wigs, or fake scars. Before filming or a show, they transform performers, touch up between scenes to match, and clean tools.
Did you know? Rick Baker won the first competitive Oscar for makeup for his work on An American Werewolf in London (1981).
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $23,360 and $167,470How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school, study makeup or theater in classes or a technical certificate/associate program, and gain production experience. State license rules differ; some exempt film or stage makeup, so check locally.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like creating and building and doing
Why does pay differ?
Pay in the U.S. can vary with experience, location, employer and production type, hours and number of bookings, and skills such as prosthetics or special effects. State license rules differ, and a strong reputation can help artists land major projects.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Georgia ($143,230), lowest in Florida ($82,400).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $23,360 | $97,150 | $167,470 | about 2,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $143,230 | about 200 |
| California | $140,870 | about 830 |
| Louisiana | $129,580 | — |
| New York | $97,150 | about 190 |
| District of Columbia | $95,730 | about 60 |
Official definition: Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/39-5091.00
- www.careeronestop.org/Videos/careeronestop-videos.aspx?videocode=39509100
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes395091.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- stage.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Documents/Final_COS_Exemption_Practice_Clarification
- www.oscars.org/collection-highlights/rick-baker
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY