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Social Services

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.

Median salary

$50,280

Typical range

$22k – $157k

Job outlook

+8% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Plan a path to Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

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Typical progression

  1. Junior Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

    Entry / Junior

    $22,010

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

    Established

    $50,280

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

    Senior

    $103,685

Key skills

A typical day

  • Clean supplies such as makeup brushes.
  • 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.

Fields of study

Any field

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