Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Career, Salary and Skills
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $97,150 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 2,340. Wage data is published for 11 locations.
Occupation description
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
O*NET code
39-5091.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
National salary and employment
Median annual
$97,150
Hourly median
$46.71
Employment
2,340
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.75 | 3.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.62 | 3.38 |
| Active Listening | 3.50 | 3.25 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Active Learning | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Service Orientation | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Clean supplies such as makeup brushes.
Technology
- Adobe Photoshop
- Appointment scheduling software
- Autodesk Maya
- Autodesk Mudbox
- Blogging software
- Bookitlive
- Clear Books
- Client databases
- DatInf DigiMakeup
- Email software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Excel
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary in CAMedian $140,870 · Employment 830
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $140,870 · Employment 780
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary in FLMedian $82,400 · Employment 250
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary in GAMedian $143,230 · Employment 200
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary in NYMedian $97,150 · Employment 190
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary in New York, NYMedian $97,150 · Employment 180
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary in Orlando, FLMedian $108,520 · Employment 160
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary in Atlanta, GAMedian $160,190 · Employment 140
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary in Washington, DCMedian $95,730 · Employment 70
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary in DCMedian $95,730 · Employment 60
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary in LAMedian $129,580 · Employment —
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.