Makeup Artists

Makeup artists usually contract with a production, negotiating a daily rate. This rate can vary greatly from project to project, depending on the budget of the production, the prestige of the project, and other factors. Even well-established makeup artists occasionally forgo payment to work on the low-budget independent productions of filmmakers they respect.

Independent contractors don't draw steady, yearly salaries. This means they may work long hours for several weeks, then, upon completion of a production, go without work for several weeks. Unless makeup artists are part of the union, they may be without benefits, having to provide all their own health insurance. An experienced makeup artist can make around $300 a day on a film with a sizable budget; some of the top makeup artists in the business command around $1,000 a day. Theatrical makeup artists can make comparable daily wages on Broadway, or in a theater in a large city; some small theaters, however, may only pay around $50 a day.

Because of such variables as the unsteady nature of the work, the makeup artist's experience, and even where he or she works, the yearly incomes for these individuals vary widely. Some makeup artists may show yearly earnings little higher than those resulting from the minimum wage ($15 an hour, or $31,200 annually). Others may have annual income in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) reports that makeup artists-theatrical and performance received median annual salaries of $47,390 in May 2023. Salaries ranged from less than $21,540 to more than $141,060. The DOL reports the following mean annual salaries for makeup artists-theatrical and performance by employer:

• motion picture and video industries: $119,940
• media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers: $112,950
• performing arts companies: $86,930
• radio and television broadcasting stations: $59,670

Salaried makeup artists usually receive benefits such as vacation days, sick leave, health and life insurance, and a savings and pension program. Self-employed artists must provide their own benefits.