Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary
The median makeup artists, theatrical and performance salary in the United States is $97,150 per year ($46.71/hour). Salaries range from $23,360 at the entry level to $167,470+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 2,340 makeup artists, theatrical and performance jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 8.1% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$97,150
per year
Hourly Rate
$46.71
per hour
Employment
2,340
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$23,360
25th percentile
$34,530
Median
$97,150
75th percentile
$143,230
90th percentile
$167,470
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+8.1%
Faster than average
Annual Openings
1,100
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Postsecondary nondegree award
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Limited data available — BLS only publishes salary data for areas with sufficient survey responses.
Salary Map — Click a state for details
$82K$143K■ No data
Top Paying States
Georgia
$143K
+47%
California
$141K
+45%
Louisiana
$130K
+33%
New York
$97K
+0%
District of Columbia
$96K
-1%
Florida
$82K
-15%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $143,230 | +47.4% |
| California | $140,870 | +45.0% |
| Louisiana | $129,580 | +33.4% |
| New York | $97,150 | +0.0% |
| District of Columbia | $95,730 | -1.5% |
| Florida | $82,400 | -15.2% |
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salary by Metro Area
Limited metro data available — BLS only publishes data for areas with sufficient survey responses.
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $160,190 | +64.9% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $140,870 | +45.0% |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $108,520 | +11.7% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $97,150 | +0.0% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $95,730 | -1.5% |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A makeup artists, theatrical and performance earning $97,150/year would need 614 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 659 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how makeup artists, theatrical and performance salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance salary trend (2011–2024) →