How much does a makeup artist make?
Answer: A typical makeup artist in the United States makes $97,150 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 2,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Makeup artist pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| California | $140,870 | about 830 |
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.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a makeup artist do?
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
What's a typical day like?
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.
How to get this job
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.
Vocational school or a few years' experience (preparation level 3 of 5)
Good for people who like creating and building and doing.
Did you know?
Rick Baker won the first competitive Oscar for makeup for his work on An American Werewolf in London (1981).
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Sources and data
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