Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 4,400 people employed as makeup artists, theatrical and performance in the United States. The median annual salary is $134,750. Entry level employees earn approximately $38,070 per year and senior employees earn approximately $172,150 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Duplicate work precisely to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis.
• Cleanse and tone the skin to prepare it for makeup application.
• Assess performers' skin type to ensure that makeup will not cause break-outs or skin irritations.
• Study production information, such as character descriptions, period settings, and situations, to determine makeup requirements.
• Alter or maintain makeup during productions as necessary to compensate for lighting changes or to achieve continuity of effect.
• Analyze a script, noting events that affect each character's appearance, so that plans can be made for each scene.
• Confer with stage or motion picture officials and performers to determine desired effects.
• Establish budgets, and work within budgetary limits.
• Write makeup sheets and take photos to document specific looks and the products used to achieve the looks.
• Provide performers with makeup removal assistance after performances have been completed.
• Requisition or acquire needed materials for special effects, including wigs, beards, and special cosmetics.
• Evaluate environmental characteristics, such as venue size and lighting plans, to determine makeup requirements.
• Attach prostheses to performers and apply makeup to create special features or effects, such as scars, aging, or illness.
• Apply makeup to enhance or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies.
• Select desired makeup shades from stock, or mix oil, grease, and coloring to achieve specific color effects.
• Examine sketches, photographs, and plaster models to obtain desired character image depiction.
• Advise hairdressers on the hairstyles required for character parts.
• Design rubber or plastic prostheses that can be used to change performers' appearances.
• Demonstrate products to clients, and provide instruction in makeup application.
• Create character drawings or models, based upon independent research, to augment period production files.
• Wash and reset wigs.

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