Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance: Career Profile
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
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What Do Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Take On?
The core tasks performed by makeup artists, theatrical and performance include:
- Clean supplies such as makeup brushes.
- Duplicate work precisely to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis.
- Apply makeup to enhance or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies.
- Analyze a script, noting events that affect each character's appearance, so that plans can be made for each scene.
- 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.
- Requisition or acquire needed materials for special effects, including wigs, beards, and special cosmetics.
- Study production information, such as character descriptions, period settings, and situations, to determine makeup requirements.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top makeup artists, theatrical and performance rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Beauty Advisor
- Beauty Specialist
- Beauty Stylist
- Beauty Therapist
- Body Make-Up Artist (Body MUA)
- Certified Technician (Certified Tech)
- Character Artist
- Commercial Makeup Artist (Commercial MUA)
Job Outlook
There are about 237,220 makeup artists, theatrical and performance working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +6.7% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $36,599 |
| Hourly median | $17.60 |
| 10th percentile | $24,523 |
| 25th percentile | $30,561 |
| 75th percentile | $42,637 |
| 90th percentile | $48,675 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $132,890 |
| Georgia | $132,610 |
| New York | $100,410 |
| District of Columbia | $91,290 |
| Tennessee | $58,560 |
| Florida | $43,020 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for makeup artists, theatrical and performance vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $87,341 | 47.3% | 1.99 |
| Southeast | $58,598 | 52.7% | 1.53 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $133,050 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $132,900 | |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $99,650 | 290 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $91,290 | 90 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | FL | $61,270 | 50 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | FL | $43,020 | 250 |
Top Industries Employing Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
Most makeup artists, theatrical and performance are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Information | 1,260 | $132,850 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 350 | $43,020 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 160 | $119,820 |
| Educational Services | 50 | $34,470 |
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for makeup artists, theatrical and performance reflects the following characteristics:
- Physical Proximity
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How to Become Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
Typical makeup artists, theatrical and performance positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Craft Artists (Primary-Long)
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (Primary-Long)
- Special Effects Artists and Animators (Supplemental)
- Fashion Designers (Primary-Long)
- Floral Designers (Supplemental)
- Graphic Designers (Supplemental)
- Photographers (Supplemental)
- Costume Attendants (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Aspiring makeup artists, theatrical and performance commonly pursue programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
3 programs across 1 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-5091.00 (Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance).
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