How To Become A Freelance Makeup Artist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a freelance makeup artist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Jeffrey Fracé

Aesthetically enhancing beauty has been a sought after skill since time immemorial, and it has never been easier. A freelance makeup artist performs this job independently and is not bound to a particular salon or company. Earning an average of $16.00 an hour, which amounts to $33,000 does not sound bad at all.

There is a certain level of freedom that freelancing gives, and it is even more satisfying when the clients are happy. Hence, a freelance makeup artist must be able to relate very well with the clients in order to bring the best out of a job.

As a freelance makeup artist, customer service is at the fore when it comes to the skills on their resumes. To cap it all off, an academic degree is not needed, as long as you have a vast knowledge base in the field and are willing to learn on the job as well. But you might need some cosmetology certifications and licensure, depending on your location.

What general advice would you give to a freelance makeup artist?

Jeffrey Fracé

Associate Professor, Head of Acting Program, Website

An artist at the beginning of their career, unless they are lucky enough to have a trust fund, has the unique challenge of effectively managing at least two businesses at once. Most of you will begin as a freelancer, and earn most of your money not from your art. To minimize the time it takes to earn a living with your art, keep your cost of living low, and try not to wear yourself out at your day job. Create day-to-day stability, but put your energy — your best self — into your art. Keep meeting people, keep practicing, and keep creating and producing original work. The more you diversify your skills — scripted and improvised, stage and camera, artistic and commercial, learning and teaching — the better chance you’ll have achieving a balance of satisfying work and satisfying income.

ScoreFreelance Makeup ArtistUS Average

Salary

3.3

Avg. Salary $42,487

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.6

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.65%

Asian 13.59%

Black or African American 8.74%

Hispanic or Latino 20.39%

Unknown 5.50%

White 51.13%

Gender

female 71.53%

male 28.47%

Age - 32

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 32

Stress level

7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

0.6

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a freelance makeup artist

Explore freelance makeup artist education requirements

Most common freelance makeup artist degrees

Bachelor's

58.5 %

Associate

20.3 %

High School Diploma

10.1 %

Start to develop specific freelance makeup artist skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	34.41%
Store Events	9.47%
Adobe Photoshop	8.84%
Photo Shoots	5.39%
Graphic Design	3.57%

Research freelance makeup artist duties and responsibilities

Manage social media outlets such as Instagram and Tumblr to reach a broader audience.
Experience with hair styling, beauty, corrective and special FX makeup including blood work, injury and casualty simulation.
Assist busy NYC train stylists.
Sanitize brushes, beauty sponges, etc.

Prepare your freelance makeup artist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your freelance makeup artist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a freelance makeup artist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable freelance makeup artist resume templates

Build a professional freelance makeup artist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your freelance makeup artist resume.