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Job outlook for makeup artists in the United States
Are makeup artist jobs in demand?
Makeup artist job and salary trends over time
Makeup artist jobs over time
Makeup artist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,917 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,719 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,326 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,071 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,462 | 0.00% |
Average makeup artist salary over time
Makeup artist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $41,026 | $19.72 | +41.2% |
| 2025 | $29,058 | $13.97 | +17.9% |
| 2024 | $24,653 | $11.85 | +8.3% |
| 2023 | $22,754 | $10.94 | --2.7% |
| 2022 | $23,395 | $11.25 | +14.5% |
Makeup artist jobs by state
Most common states for makeup artists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 39,536,653 | 336 | 1% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 73 | 1% |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 60 | 1% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 34 | 1% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 23 | 1% |
| 6 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 16 | 1% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 9 | 1% |
| 8 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 4 | 1% |
| 9 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 76 | 0% |
| 10 | New York | 19,849,399 | 62 | 0% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 34 | 0% |
| 12 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 24 | 0% |
| 13 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 15 | 0% |
| 14 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 9 | 0% |
| 15 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 6 | 0% |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 6 | 0% |
| 17 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 6 | 0% |
| 18 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 5 | 0% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 3 | 0% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 1 | 0% |
Most common cities for makeup artists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agawam Town | 1 | 3% | $36,554 |
| 2 | Panama City | 1 | 3% | $32,382 |
| 3 | Bowie | 1 | 2% | $35,712 |
| 4 | Boston | 4 | 1% | $36,728 |
| 5 | San Bernardino | 2 | 1% | $51,771 |
| 6 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $52,548 |
| 7 | New York | 2 | 0% | $56,198 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $50,542 |
| 9 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $32,619 |
| 10 | Oakland | 1 | 0% | $56,044 |
| 11 | Orlando | 1 | 0% | $32,069 |
| 12 | San Diego | 1 | 0% | $50,829 |
| 13 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $56,261 |
| 14 | Scottsdale | 1 | 0% | $41,291 |
| 15 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $35,508 |
Makeup Artist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of makeup artist experts
Florida Gulf Coast University
University of Missouri - Kansas City
Rider University
University of Indianapolis
Art Academy of Cincinnati
Western Illinois University
Foothill College
Colby College
The University of Southern Mississippi
Elmhurst University
Baylor School of Music
Ohio University
Alma College
Arizona State University
What general advice would you give to a Makeup Artist?
Beth Secor: Keep your eyes and ears open for job opportunities, find a job at an arts non-profit, and never quit making art. Actively engage in the profession, as it can lead to unexpected opportunities.
Steve Hughart II
Laboratory Coordinator I/ Adjunct ProfessorFlorida Gulf Coast University
Fine And Studio Arts
What Makeup Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Steve Hughart II: If you want to maximize your salary potential, I always say you need to have a lot of tools in your toolbox. Take your foundation courses seriously and learn as much as you can from the faculty and staff here at FGCU. Ask questions, devote time outside of class to work, time management and understanding how long it will take to complete tasks is very important. Another important aspect is social networking. Meet as many people as you can in the field you are interested in. A lot of times finding the best position isn’t based on what you know, but who you know.
What will help Makeup Artists increase their earning potential?
Steve Hughart II: The most important skills that I would suggest would be to learn and understand the Adobe Creative Cloud Applications such as Photoshop and Illustrator for example. These platforms will benefit you immensely in the art field in a ton of different ways. All artists will use these applications in one form or another. That being said, I would also encourage everyone to do as much work as possible with your hands. Learn to use power tools, pick up a piece of paper and pencil instead of the iPad, use a real camera instead of your phone. With AI growing so fast digital media work will all be AI generated, so focusing on improving your editing skills and creating with your hands will be where the jobs are.
Carla Noack
Associate Professor of Theatre, ActingUniversity of Missouri - Kansas City
Drama/Theatre Arts And Stagecraft
What general advice would you give to a Makeup Artist?
Carla Noack: My advice is to be patient and generous with one’s self and others. A career in this field is built over time through nurturing relationships, staying curious, being kind, taking creative risks, and being willing to forgive and be forgiven. Any job “counts” in this field when viewed through an artistic lens. It’s about staying interested in the human condition, finding ways to express your perspective, and encouraging others to do the same.
What general advice would you give to a Makeup Artist?
Jeffrey Fracé: 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.
What will help Makeup Artists increase their earning potential?
Jeffrey Fracé: I recommend that before you graduate, you think about where you want to live and make a plan to move there. Consider factors such where are the artists doing the kind of work you are interested in doing, whom do you already know there, and are there opportunities to earn a living as you break into the field. Meet as many people as you can in your chosen place — whomever you want to work with, get to know their work better and reach out to them. Meanwhile, keep active by continuing to train yourself, because in theater or film/TV, it’s very common for there to be gaps between projects as you are starting out. Keep your cost of living low, and try not to wear yourself out at your day job. Do something every day that reminds you that you are an artist, whether it’s rehearsing your monologues, working on a scene with a friend, taking classes, writing, composing or playing music, whatever helps you feel creative.
What general advice would you give to a Makeup Artist?
Hartmut Austen: Go abroad for a while and travel. Build or become part of a community. Foster relationships with people that have an interest in your wellbeing and success. Maintain relationships with other artists and people in other professional fields. Attend professional development opportunities and consider continuing education towards an M.F.A. program.
What Makeup Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ananda Keator: Don't work for free, know your worth and fight for it. Also make sure there is 'life' in your 'work/life balance'. Figure out what success means to you, and it will look different for everyone. You don't have to move to NYC, you don't have to win lots of awards, etc., if that's not what makes you happy.
What general advice would you give to a Makeup Artist?
Todd Dellinger: Know thyself. This response has many facets and implications - know your 'deep why' or vision of yourself as an artist and professional and frame around the impact you wish to have on others - this becomes a sort of 'lodestar' for the work ahead of crafting a career. Know who you are internally, as well as externally - as a 'package' because you are entering an industry where you - and the work you produce - are the commodity, for good or bad. As such, define and adhere to your boundaries - so that you cannot be taken advantage of, and can stay true to your vision. Know yourself in the context of the business - and know the business aspects of what you do. You are, at the end of the day, a business - too many artists ignore that. Then, stick to your knowledge of and vision for yourself as an artist and professional.
What general advice would you give to a Makeup Artist?
Todd Dellinger: Have a diverse and relevant toolkit of skills and expertise - creative and artistic ones, yes - but perhaps even more importantly, skills and expertise which translate into multiple, diverse corners of arts & entertainment and into other sectors. Know how to translate your artistic wizardry from the stage to a phone, from the studio to a streaming platform, from one arts discipline or style or genre to multiple others. But also, know how write up a marketing piece, a grant narrative, plan an event, manage a budget. You might find day-work in the very place where you're sharing your talent at night.
What Makeup Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Todd Dellinger: Adaptability to change - it's inescapable and has been forever in the arts - but change comes so swiftly and from so many directions now - particularly those changes brought about by technology and media/communications. Be ahead of the curve when it comes to what new uses of AI, what new applications for social media and how to manipulate those to your advantage, to your "business" of being an artist in this world. Entrepreneurial skills are vital in any business. You will need to be your own entrepreneur - exercising creative, innovative ways of using your talents and skills "outside the box" and applying these in parts of the industry and in other settings to expand your earning and learning potentia
What will help Makeup Artists increase their earning potential?
Todd Dellinger: Know thyself. This response has many facets and implications - know your "deep why" or vision of yourself as an artist and professional and frame around the impact you wish to have on others - this becomes a sort of "lodestar" for the work ahead of crafting a career. Know who you are internally, as well as externally - as a "package" because you are entering an industry where you - and the work you produce - are the commodity, for good or bad. As such, define and adhere to your boundaries - so that you cannot be taken advantage of, and can stay true to your vision. Know yourself in context of the business - and know the business aspects of what you do. You are, at the end of the day, a business - too many artists ignore that. Then, stick to your knowledge of and vision for, yourself as an artist and professional.
Nathaniel Foley
Assistant Professor of Art & DesignUniversity of Indianapolis
Fine And Studio Arts
What general advice would you give to a Makeup Artist?
Nathaniel Foley: Creatives must possess the confidence to sell and speak about themselves and their multifaceted and transferable skill sets. As creative problem-solvers, artists place themselves in a unique position to be able to engage all facets of the job market to positively contribute to today's society. Never place yourself in a mindset of only being able to function as a starving artist as you have gone through extensive training to think, take risks, communicate, and make differently than other disciplines, which sets you apart and provides you a unique opportunity to craft your own path. Do not be afraid to take risks by pursuing jobs that might not completely fit your perceived path because they will open doors and opportunities in the future.
What will help Makeup Artists increase their earning potential?
Nathaniel Foley: A career in fine art is never a linear path like other professional fields, so one must remain flexible and aware of all opportunities that they might fit or create. Additionally, they possess numerous skill sets that are unique and they must be able to highlight them to an employer to demonstrate their value.
What skills stand out on Makeup Artist resumes?
Paige Williams: The skills that stand out on artist resumes are skills that distinguish them from other applicants. Potential employers are looking for individuals whose resumes provide evidence of exploration, risk-taking, and the ability to adapt. These traits are evidenced through experiences with internships, study abroad, and other real-world experiences such as client-based projects, exhibitions, performances, and readings in public spaces. Art school is experiential. Students aren't just observing but doing while they are in school. The ability to learn and adapt to new technology is also important. Art students don't just learn but utilize technological skills with purpose in their own creative work.
What skills will help Makeup Artists earn the most?
Paige Williams: A combination of the 21st Century Skills: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication will provide the most effective skill base for those seeking success in creative fields.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Makeup Artists?
Elizabeth McPherson: Yes, I think the coronavirus pandemic will have a profound impact on the dance field. Many small dance companies may find it impossible to keep paying dancers and staff. Some bigger dance companies have disbanded their second or junior companies. Virtual or outdoor performances are all that is possible right now for the most part. There is. However, some fantastic work being done in terms of dance film and online performance events. I think as the pandemic subsides eventually, that we will have live performances again, but also more virtual events. Dancers and choreographers are honing their skills with technology.
In terms of dance education, innovation is again the name of the game. One recent grad from Montclair State has just been hired to teach a 4- to 5-year-old dance class outside in someone's backyard. Many dance teachers are teaching over Zoom, and also creating videos of dance classes that people can do at their leisure, not in real time. I think this will also stay with us even after we return to teaching more classes in person. It allows for more global connection, in that I could take a dance class that is happening in Japan, for instance, through Zoom.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Makeup Artists to find work opportunities?
Elizabeth McPherson: I predict that NYC will continue to have a large concentration of dance companies. However, I do know that many young professional dancers have returned to their parents' homes across the USA since the pandemic hit. Perhaps this will result in a flourish of more theatrical dance, particularly modern and contemporary, happening outside of NYC.
Tammy Killian
Chair - Department of Theatre and DanceWestern Illinois University
Drama/Theatre Arts And Stagecraft
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Makeup Artists to find work opportunities?
Tammy Killian: Currently, no. With COVID-19 shutting down the industry, this is not a great time to look for work. Film and TV production companies are beginning to shoot again, with many precautions in place. The outdoor theatre has survived. Many small venue theatres have moved outdoors or are doing drive-in events. Finding a job now is about being willing to relocate, research, and being flexible.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Makeup Artists?
Tammy Killian: Yes, I believe that this group of graduates (2020 and 2021) will be impacted. I like to think that most graduates will be impacted in that they will be more innovative, more independent, and will have a greater sense of priorities.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Makeup Artists?
Tom Gough: Without a crystal ball, it will be impossible to tell. I will say the ones I have corresponded with are itching and aching for opportunities, mostly to interact live. I hope, coming out of this, there will be a bit of a gold rush as audiences are aching for the live social element of the performing arts. But the current circumstances are taking their toll on a number of smaller arts organizations as they struggle with the uncertain economics of the present time and the How? When? etc. A decline in opportunities would certainly be felt by emerging artists.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Makeup Artists to find work opportunities?
Annie Kloppenberg: As has been the case for many years, the vast majority of young artists need to carve their own paths in order to succeed. With theaters shuttered, much attention has been given to artists who have found creative ways to pursue and produce their work. But in reality, that is not new. Generally speaking, Americans don't value the live arts the way people in many other cultures do. Artists for whom this work matters have needed to find ways to do their work in their communities.
People working in performing arts have, for many years, needed to leverage all their skills both to make ends meet and to be able to do their work. They have found flexible jobs to support their creative practice, have pursued jobs in the arts sector off the stage, have created fundraising platforms and productive partnerships beyond the arts sector, and have built audiences for their work in communities large and small. Artists create opportunities for themselves, and the pressure will be on to continue to do so. These are lessons, by the way, that can be applied beyond the arts sector!
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Makeup Artists?
Annie Kloppenberg: I think there certainly will be-as there will be an enduring impact on our economy and culture at large. It is hard to predict exactly what shape those changes will take. I have faith that our health care researchers will create an antidote to coronavirus, but what the pandemic has also made visible in new ways is the range of inequities that are deeply woven into the fabric of our culture. Producing an antidote to that is less straightforward. While it may be harder to find entry-level jobs, I also think that graduates entering the workforce will do so with creativity and with a palpable commitment to social justice. Young people stepped up as organizers this summer, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see them continue to step up in their professional lives in the coming years. And I think we need to make room for them to do that.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Makeup Artists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ashley Allen Ph.D.: Music educators can gain employment in any state in the United States, as long as they take the steps necessary to become licensed in that state. I don't think this has changed significantly because of COVID. I do see more students accepting positions in private, online, and charter schools. I also see more students accepting positions in alternative (but related) fields.
Rick Arnold
Assistant Professor of Design and TechnologyElmhurst University
Department of Theatre & Dance
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Makeup Artists to find work opportunities?
Rick Arnold: The answer depends on what part of the entertainment industry interests them. Movies and television are centered in southern California. Live theatre is concentrated in larger cities, as are museums and concert venues. Job banks are a great place to find work or places where work is concentrated. Those are now easy to find online, so they can stay for a while where it is cheaper to live and make their way to the part of the US that has the work they are looking for.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Makeup Artists?
Rick Arnold: The entertainment industry has been hit very hard. Theatre, concerts, and other forms of entertainment were the first places to close or stop work. Pretty much everyone who works in the industry stopped in March. Many are gig workers-entrepreneurs who are dependent on finding the next job. I have seen lots of people change their careers because they cannot wait or are just tired of hustling for work. I think this is one of those times where there will be an opportunity for early-career folks. Once we do get back into the theatres, studios, and arenas, the industry will boom because everyone will want to get out of the house and see or do something.
What general advice would you give to a Makeup Artist?
Dr. Randall Bradley: Yes, I believe that the COVID-19 will have a lasting effect on our students and on the church. For starters, it has been more difficult than usual to place our students because church search committees stopped meeting in March, and it was impossible for churches to host our graduates for interviews and meet-and-greet opportunities that are so vital to church placement. However, I believe that some of the enduring impacts of the coronavirus pandemic will be the greater role that technology will play in churches of all sizes moving forward.
Nearly every church I know (even very small ones) has found ways to use technology to remain connected to their worshiping community. I don't think that this development is something that will end with the pandemic. I see our future graduates playing larger roles in helping to prepare worship that communicates not only to those gathered in the worship space live, but also to the virtual worshipers who join in from many other places. Also, the sheer volume of technology that churches have purchased during this time will need to be used in their congregations moving forward.
I also think that future worship leaders will be challenged to discover new ways in which virtual worship can be considered fresh and creative, rather than just an airing of what is in the worship space. Churches are going to demand greater innovation and creativity going forward, and future ministers are going to be challenged at this point. Lastly, I think that once we have all exercised greater dependence on technology during the pandemic, and experienced first-hand its potential for effectiveness, we will never return to our old ways of doing things. These changes will affect the ways in which meetings are held; administrative decisions are made, personnel is managed, and more. These implications will alter the way that worship leaders not only plan and lead worship but also how they implement and administer their ministries.
What Makeup Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Randall Bradley: This is a good question. I'm not sure there is a region that is better; however, the places in which the coronavirus has had the least impact are starting to open up and search for leadership first. Secondly, I think one of the most open places for worship leaders to find positions will continue to be in smaller towns. There are many smaller town churches that desire well-trained music and worship leaders; however, most younger people are not particularly interested in settling in places that are further from major metropolitan areas. We are seeing similar challenges among medical professionals, educators, etc. Yet, with the recent interest in smaller rural communities as safe places to escape a pandemic, this trend could shift.
Dr. Dawn Wohn
Associate Professor of Violin, String Division ChairOhio University
Department of Fine Arts
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Makeup Artists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Dawn Wohn: As mentioned before, currently, the job market is challenging. I have seen my graduates successfully find jobs in public and private schools, as adjunct instructors at universities, music therapists, and most often, as private instructors, who freelance as well.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Makeup Artists to find work opportunities?
Rosely Conz: My short answer would be yes! Again, the possibilities to work as a performer and choreographer are limited now, but there are other opportunities to combine a dance major with other areas of interest - fitness, education, arts administration, etc. With my students at Alma College, I encourage them to double major, which does not mean they will not work with dance, but it opens other possibilities for them to work as PT, as teachers (either in private studios or K-12), to open their own studios (with a business major as well), as producers, or in technical theatre (stage managers, designs, etc.).
How do you envision technology impacting Makeup Artists in the next 5 years?
Rosely Conz: The integration of technology and dance has been happening for years, with the emergence of hybrid art forms such as screendance, with artists such as Maya Deren and Merce Cunningham. The use of motion capture, projection design, movement sensors, etc. also is a reality, evidenced by the works of so many dance companies, Broadway musicals, and independent artists.
There are, of course, differences between seeing a dance piece created for the stage live or through video, and I feel like, in this case, technology cannot replace the collective experience of being in a theatre or seeing something live. However, with the limitations of the pandemic, we need to take full advantage of the possibilities in live streaming, editing software, cameras, social media, interactive platforms online, etc. Again, technology is here to help artists to achieve their aesthetic goals.
I also hope that the technological developments in the medical field start benefiting dancers as well with new methods for injury prevention and treatment, for example.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Makeup Artists to find work opportunities?
David Barker: I suggest seeking areas where film, television, and media arts are still prominent. Fortunately for graduates of Arizona State University, we have positioned exactly the same distance (400 miles) from 2 of those areas: Hollywood, CA, and Albuquerque, NM. However, "good places" now exist virtually. So, all graduates must develop a strong online presence using the many social, artistic, and business websites and apps.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Makeup Artists?
David Barker: For this generation, absolutely. On the challenging side of the equation, the world of professional theatre will not return to any semblance of normal until a vaccine is available, and people begin to get immunized. Not until the Fall of 2021 will professional in-person theatre begin to emerge from the shadow of COVID19, and when that happens, the floodgate of theatre artists needing work will be unprecedented. On the hopeful side of the equation, the demands of the virtual world will have necessitated the acquisition of new skills in all theatre-related areas: including performance, design, directing, stage management, writing, dramaturgy, and technical. So, in a year, the employment opportunities should begin, but the ramped-up competition for that work, combined with newly acquired skills, will present a newly imagined theatre world, the likes of which we cannot fully perceive at this time.
2. Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate? I suggest seeking areas where film, television, and media arts are still prominent. Fortunately for graduates of Arizona State University, we are positioned exactly the same distance (400 miles) from 2 of those areas: Hollywood, CA and Albuquerque, NM. However, "good places" now exist virtually. So, all graduates must develop a strong online presence using the many social, artistic, and business websites and apps.
3. How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years? There will continue to be a significant struggle for actors in training to empathize with the human condition. This struggle began in the late 90's when cell phones became readily available for most people, and it gets worse every year. Student actors grow up learning that connection between 2 people (a connection that is at the very core of theatre), is normally achieved by sending text and images on a phone. And while these images can readily express feelings, they are pathetically inaccurate accounts of actual human conditions. So, while technology will help in many ways, most likely in the areas of design, it will continue to erode the heart and soul of this art form: the examination and expression of the human condition.