SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 39-5091.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $23,360 | $1,947 | $449 | $11.23 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $34,530 | $2,878 | $664 | $16.60 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $97,150 | $8,096 | $1,868 | $46.71 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $143,230 | $11,936 | $2,754 | $68.86 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $167,470 | $13,956 | $3,221 | $80.51 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance is $97,150, which is 91% higher. Among the 32 occupations of the field Personal Care and Service, it ranks number 1 by median pay. With 2,340 jobs, it makes up about 0.2 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance pay by state
The highest median pay was in Georgia ($143,230), California ($140,870) and Louisiana ($129,580). The lowest was in Florida ($82,400), District of Columbia ($95,730) and New York ($97,150). The most jobs were in California (830), Florida (250) and Georgia (200). The occupation is most concentrated in District of Columbia, where its share of all jobs is 5.9 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 200 | $143,230 | $140,560 | $68.86 |
| California | 830 | $140,870 | $138,420 | $67.73 |
| Louisiana | not published | $129,580 | $113,830 | $62.30 |
| New York | 190 | $97,150 | $120,580 | $46.71 |
| District of Columbia | 60 | $95,730 | $88,560 | $46.02 |
| Florida | 250 | $82,400 | $101,330 | $39.62 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers$63,820 a year
- Embalmers$58,780 a year
- Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$55,010 a year
Common questions
How much do Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance earn in the United States?
The median pay was $97,150 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $23,360 and the highest-paid 10% more than $167,470.
How many people work as Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance?
About 2,340 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.