SOC 39-5091 · May 2025 · United States
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance across the United States is $97,150 per year, measured over 2,340 jobs. The highest state median is in Georgia, at $143,230.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow faster than average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +8.1%
- Openings per year
- 1,100
- Typical entry-level education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
50.3% of people in this occupation work for themselves.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
Pay for this occupation varies by 73.8% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Georgia pays $143,230 and Florida pays $82,400.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | $143,230 | 200 | |
| 2 | California | $140,870 | 830 | |
| 3 | Louisiana | $129,580 | — | |
| 4 | New York | $97,150 | 190 | |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $95,730 | 60 | |
| 6 | Florida | $82,400 | 250 |
States with the most Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 830 | $140,870 | |
| 2 | Florida | 250 | $82,400 | |
| 3 | Georgia | 200 | $143,230 | |
| 4 | New York | 190 | $97,150 | |
| 5 | District of Columbia | 60 | $95,730 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta | $160,190 | 140 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $140,870 | 780 |
| 3 | Orlando | $108,520 | 160 |
| 4 | New York | $97,150 | 180 |
| 5 | Washington | $95,730 | 70 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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