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Make-Up Artist

Types of Degrees Make-Up Artist Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Make-Up Artist can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	236
Associate’s Degree	59
Master’s Degree	120

What Make-Up Artist Majors Need to Know

Studies in Make-Up Artist emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Make-Up Artist graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Make-Up Artist emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.0 / 7.
• Sales and Marketing — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Make-Up Artist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Service Orientation — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Make-Up Artist careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Finger Dexterity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Make-Up Artist graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.3 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.0 / 7
Getting Information	4.0 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.9 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.8 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	3.8 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.8 / 7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	3.6 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.6 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Make-Up Artist professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Appointment scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
Intuit QuickBooks	Accounting software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Facebook	Web page creation and editing software	—
Autodesk Maya	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Bookitlive	Data base user interface and query software	—
Pixologic Zbrush	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Twitter	Instant messaging software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Client databases	Data base user interface and query software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Make-Up Artist graduates include:

• Beauty Specialist
• Beauty Advisor
• Hair and Makeup Designer
• Beauty Therapist
• Hair and Makeup Artist
• Prosthetic Makeup Designer
• Special Effects Makeup Artist (Special Effects MUA)
• Makeup Worker
• Lash Artist (Eyelash Artist)
• Beauty Stylist
• Character Artist
• Certified Technician (Certified Tech)
• TV and Film Makeup Artist (Television and Film Makeup Artist)
• Makeup Technician (Makeup Tech)
• Commercial Makeup Artist (Commercial MUA)

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Make-Up Artist graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Postsecondary certificate	53.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	27.2%
Some college courses	4.8%
Less than a high school diploma	4.8%
Bachelor’s degree	4.8%
First professional degree	2.4%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.4%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Make-Up Artist?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 95.1% of Make-Up Artist degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	405	95.1%
Men	21	4.9%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Make-Up Artist graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	100	23.5%
Asian	4	0.9%
Hispanic or Latino	257	60.3%
Black or African American	41	9.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native	7	1.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	1	0.2%
Two or More Races	7	1.6%
Race Unknown	8	1.9%
International Students	1	0.2%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Make-Up Artist Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Make-Up Artist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$17,533
4 years	$20,210
5 years	$22,425

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $22,425 — roughly 28% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Make-Up Artist Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Make-Up Artist graduates earn a median of $20,210 four years after completion — about 47% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services	12.04
Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist	12.0409
Barbering/Barber	12.0402
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other	12.0499
Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor	12.0413
Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General	12.0401
Electrolysis/Electrology and Electrolysis Technician	12.0404
Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist	12.0408
Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design	12.0407
Master Aesthetician/Esthetician	12.0414
Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist	12.0410
Permanent Cosmetics/Makeup and Tattooing	12.0411

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.