Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary
Personal Care and Service Occupations · 2.3K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$97,150
Median hourly
$47
Average annual
$102,240
Typical range
$23,360–$167,470
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance is $97,150 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $47 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role..
Most earn between $23,360 and $167,470 a year. There are roughly 2.3K people employed as makeup artists, theatrical and performance in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance.
- Hourly
- $46.71
- Daily
- $374
- Weekly
- $1,868
- Bi-weekly
- $3,737
- Monthly
- $8,096
- Annual
- $97,150
$97,150 a year is around the 50th percentile for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performances. The median is $97,150.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Georgia$143,230
- 2California$140,870
- 3Louisiana$129,580
- 4New York$97,150
- 5District of Columbia$95,730
- 6Florida$82,400
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$160,190
- 2Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$140,870
- 3Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$108,520
- 4New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$97,150
- 5Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$95,730
Related job titles
Employers advertise Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance roles under these titles.
Related occupations
What a Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance does
- Apply makeup to enhance or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies.
- Select desired makeup shades from stock, or mix oil, grease, and coloring to achieve specific color effects.
- Duplicate work precisely to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis.
- Assess performers' skin type to ensure that makeup will not cause break-outs or skin irritations.
- Study production information, such as character descriptions, period settings, and situations, to determine makeup requirements.
- Alter or maintain makeup during productions as necessary to compensate for lighting changes or to achieve continuity of effect.
- Confer with stage or motion picture officials and performers to determine desired effects.
- Establish budgets, and work within budgetary limits.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance make?
- The median annual wage for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance is $97,150 ($47 per hour). Pay ranges from about $23,360 at the 10th percentile to $167,470 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $102,240, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performances the most?
- Georgia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $143,230.
- Is Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 2.3K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance do?
- Apply makeup to enhance or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies.; Select desired makeup shades from stock, or mix oil, grease, and coloring to achieve specific color effects.; Duplicate work precisely to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis..