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The differences between makeup artists and photographers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a makeup artist, becoming a photographer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a makeup artist has an average salary of $41,026, which is higher than the $33,968 average annual salary of a photographer.
The top three skills for a makeup artist include customer service, product knowledge and store events. The most important skills for a photographer are adobe photoshop, customer service, and excellent time management.
| Makeup Artist | Photographer | |
| Yearly salary | $41,026 | $33,968 |
| Hourly rate | $19.72 | $16.33 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 4,620 | 1,772 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.67 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 34 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
A makeup artist is a beauty enthusiast offering makeup services depending on the clients' needs and event purposes. Makeup artists must have a broad knowledge of the beauty and fashion industry to provide recommendations and create the best aesthetic looks for clients. Makeup artists also need to have an understanding of colors and styles, as well as extensive options on long-lasting makeup materials and cosmetic toolkits. A makeup artist in a professional setting often works alongside other stylists to manage the right looks for clients.
A photographer is an individual who focuses on the art of taking images with the use of a digital or traditional film camera. They are knowledgeable in the proper utilization and care of high-end cameras. They generally work as a freelancer and often hired to capture memories of unique clients. Some are also in exclusive partnerships with event-related industries in such settings as weddings, graduation, corporate events, and even commercial shoots. Apart from taking pictures, they also may be required to edit and prepare photographs to submit to clients or for publication.
Makeup artists and photographers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Makeup Artist | Photographer | |
| Average salary | $41,026 | $33,968 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $77,000 | Between $22,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a makeup artist and a photographer in terms of educational background:
| Makeup Artist | Photographer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Cosmetology | Photography |
| Most common college | - | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between makeup artists' and photographers' demographics:
| Makeup Artist | Photographer | |
| Average age | 34 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 11.8% Female, 88.2% | Male, 38.3% Female, 61.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 13.6% White, 51.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 7.0% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |