Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for makeup artists, theatrical and performances across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Georgia$140,560
- California$138,420
- New York$120,580
- Louisiana$113,830
- Florida$101,330
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- District of Columbia$88,560
- Florida$101,330
- Louisiana$113,830
- New York$120,580
- California$138,420
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | $140,560 | $143,230 | $68 | +37.5% | 200 |
| 2 | California | $138,420 | $140,870 | $67 | +35.4% | 830 |
| 3 | New York | $120,580 | $97,150 | $58 | +17.9% | 190 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $113,830 | $129,580 | $55 | +11.3% | — |
| 5 | Florida | $101,330 | $82,400 | $49 | -0.9% | 250 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $88,560 | $95,730 | $43 | -13.4% | 60 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 5 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $160,190 | $136,930 | 140 |
| 2 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $140,870 | $139,860 | 780 |
| 3 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $108,520 | $119,880 | 160 |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $97,150 | $118,920 | 180 |
| 5 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $95,730 | $94,150 | 70 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing makeup artists, theatrical and performances (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $140,870 | $138,800 | 1,140 |
| 2 | Motion Picture and Video Industries | $140,870 | $138,850 | 1,140 |
| 3 | Sector 51 - Information | $139,900 | $134,360 | 1,240 |
| 4 | Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $137,140 | $131,960 | — |
| 5 | Administrative and Support Services | $132,140 | $133,980 | 80 |
| 6 | Employment Services | $132,140 | $133,980 | 80 |
| 7 | Sector 56 - Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $132,140 | $133,980 | 80 |
| 8 | Temporary Help Services | $131,530 | $135,800 | 60 |
| 9 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $97,150 | $102,240 | 2,340 |
| 10 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $97,150 | $102,260 | 2,340 |
| 11 | Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, & Other Media Networks & Content Providers | $95,730 | $99,720 | 40 |
| 12 | Broadcasting and Content Providers | $92,370 | $84,730 | 90 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do makeup artists, theatrical and performance make in the U.S.?
The median makeup artists, theatrical and performance salary in the United States is $97,150 per year (mean $102,240), and about 80% earn between $23,360 and $167,470.
How much do makeup artists, theatrical and performance make per hour?
Roughly $49 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $102,240 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays makeup artists, theatrical and performance the most?
Georgia has the highest average pay for makeup artists, theatrical and performance at $140,560 per year (median $143,230).
What is the job outlook for makeup artists, theatrical and performance?
Employment is projected to change +8.1% from 2024 to 2034 (Much faster than average), with about 1,100 openings per year.