How to hire a makeup artist

How to hire a makeup artist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step makeup artist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a makeup artist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new makeup artist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a makeup artist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a makeup artist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a makeup artist that fits the bill.

   This list presents makeup artist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Makeup Artist	Description	Hourly rate
   Makeup Artist	A Makeup Artist ensures that models, performers, and presenters have suitable makeup and hairstyles before they appear in front of cameras or an audience. They usually are hired by the entertainment and media industries.	$10-37
   Beauty Consultant	A beauty consultant is responsible for assisting customers with their beauty needs, recommending to customers beauty and skincare products that fit their lifestyle and skincare concerns. Beauty consultants also sell products and services for the customers, demonstrating skincare products through performing makeovers... Show more	$12-18
   Beauty Advisor	A beauty advisor's role is to represent a brand by engaging with customers and recommending cosmetic or skincare products in pursuit of securing sales. They must have extensive knowledge of the company's products and current trends, ability in applying make-up, and customer service skills as most of the duties will focus on demonstrating and responding to inquiries... Show more	$13-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Product Knowledge
   • Store Events
   • Photo Shoots
   • Skin Care Products
   • Retail Sales
   • Touch UPS
   • POS
   • Hair Styling
   • Wigs
   • Skin Types
   • Scheduling Appointments
   • Hair Care
   • Prosthetics

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve all sales goals through close client contact and upselling techniques.
   • Manage social media outlets such as Instagram and Tumblr to reach a broader audience.
   • Experience hair stylist providing full range of customize hair care services including hair extensions, wigs and braids.
   • Support master classes in NYC.
   • Work in collaboration with key artist for fashion week NYC.
   • Silk-Screen t-shirts, work in stain glass, glassblower apprentice.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your makeup artist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A makeup artist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, makeup artists' average salary in minnesota is 59% less than in new mexico.
   • Seniority. Entry-level makeup artists 73% less than senior-level makeup artists.
   • Certifications. A makeup artist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a makeup artist's salary.

   Average makeup artist salary

   $41,026yearly

   $19.72 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level makeup artist salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

4. Writing a makeup artist job description

   A makeup artist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a makeup artist job description:

   Makeup artist job description example

   The MAC Makeup Artist is responsible for the superior service ambassadorship expected from all employees. They uphold the friendly, welcoming image of the brand and showcase products, artistry and culture of the company to the customer. Their primary responsibility is to achieve optimal performance and uphold the expectation of the Joy Journey service model and the 5 Non-Negotiables of service behaviors. They are expected to deliver sales expectations through customer service and co-creating with the customer to provide personalized artistry/product solutions for their needs. They are responsible for building their personal business and clientele, inspiring loyalty to the brand for the Customer and driving repeat business through sales and services.
   *Position Responsibilities*
   
   * Self-starter, able to work independently and as part of a team and must have good time management skills
   * Excellent communication skills to be performed daily
   * Greet customers with name immediately upon customer's arrival, to begin engaging and thoughtful connection
   * Build trust and rapport with customers through open-ended questions and authentic curiosity in their needs, with effective verbal interaction and validation
   * Sample products as applicable to drive loyalty and repeat business
   * Ability to serve multiple customers at peak times, without compromising their experience
   * Ability to build a long-term relationship with the customer ultimately leading to retention and loyalty
   * Leverage clienteling/Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools to capture customer profile and utilize client “book” every day to connect with customers for outreach, replenishment and to drive sales
   * Own and achieve individual sales goals and contribute to team sales goals
   * Stay current on beauty industry trends and competitive landscape (specifically via social media) to validate customers' interests and purchases, better personalize recommendations to their needs
   
   *Qualifications*
   
   * High School or High School Equivalency
   * 0-1 years retail experience; Cosmetic experience preferred
   * Excellent customer service, communication, organizational skills and time management skills
   * Ability to assess customer needs and make recommendations
   
   *Job: * Retail - Store
   *Primary Location: * US-CA-Glendale
   *Job Type: * Standard
   *Schedule: * Part-time
   *Shift: * Variable
   We are an equal opportunity employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. It is Company's policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. The Company will endeavor to provide a reasonable accommodation consistent with the law to otherwise qualified employees and prospective employees with a disability and to employees and prospective employees with needs related to their religious observance or practice
   
   Job Type: Full-time
   
   Benefits:
   * 401(k)
   * 401(k) matching
   * Dental insurance
   * Employee discount
   * Health insurance
   * Vision insurance
   Schedule:
   * 8 hour shift
   * Day shift
   * Evening shift
   * Holidays
   * Weekend availability
   Supplemental pay types:
   * Bonus pay
   * Signing bonus
   
   Work Location: One location

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right makeup artist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your makeup artist job on Zippia to find and recruit makeup artist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with makeup artist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new makeup artist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the makeup artist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new makeup artist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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