The salary of makeup artists can vary based on their experience, location, specialization, and clientele. Makeup artists’ salaries vary widely, but entry level positions can expect to make $30,000 to $40,000 a year, and established makeup artists can make over $100,000 a year.
Starting in the Industry
New makeup artists will usually start their careers at cosmetics counters or beauty salons on an hourly wage of about $15 to $25. So, about $2,400 to $4,000 a month for full time wages. In this period, numerous artists pick up weekend work as freelancers to expand their portfolio and client base.
Established Makeup Artists
The more experience, customer base and reputation someone has as a make-up artist, the more money they can make. Industry veterans based in metropolitan regions can get $75 to $150 per client for special event makeup and $150 to $300 for wedding makeup. An established makeup artist may charge clients anywhere from $5,000 to $12,000 a month if they work on 3–4 clients each day!
Celebrity Makeup Artists
Celebrity make-up artists are in the top earners of the profession. On high-profile clients and during fashion shows or magazine shoots, these elite professionals can charge $1,000 to $5,000 per day.
Some of the highest-earning makeup artists for celebrities can make between $150,000 and $500,000 a year, and a handful exceed $1 million annually. They generate revenue through product endorsement, brand deals, social media partnerships, and more.
Fashion and Media Industry
Rates for makeup artists in other types of settings, however — specifically in fashion and media, where the work is less retail-oriented and more high fashion — are generally much higher.
During fashion week events, makeup artists can charge as much as $350 – $800 per day. Allies in TV and film could make $60,000 to $120,000 a year, as well as overtime and benefits for union members.
Freelance and Business Owners
A lot of make-up artists who are doing well eventually start their own business or studio. They can also scale considerably by having training courses, their own product line/business or team of artists reporting to them. Some successful makeup artist business owners make between $150,000 to $300,000+ per Year.
Regional Variations
Earnings also depends on the location. However, makeup artists in larger markets such as New York, Los Angeles, or Miami tend to charge more than those in smaller markets. For instance, a makeup artist in New York City could make 30-40% more than one with the same experience in a smaller city.
Additional Revenue Streams
Many modern-day makeup artists have multiple income sources. This can be gleaned by creating YouTube how-toes, Instagram posts, teaching an online course, writing a beauty blog, or developing a signature technique they can teach others.
Depending on their following and engagement, these extra sources of income can supplement an individual with between $1,000 to $10,000 or even more each month.
Factors Affecting Earnings
A makeup artist’s earning potential may vary based on several factors, including:
- Experience and skills level
- Specialized training and certifications
- Portfolio size and quality
- Skill for Marketing And Networking
- Focus (bridal, theatre, special effects)
- Client base and reputation
- Where its located AND the market demand around it
- Negotiation, negotiation business sense
Makeup Artist Salaries by Major U.S. Cities
| City | Entry Level (Annual) | Mid-Career (Annual) | Experienced (Annual) | Top Earners/Celebrity Artists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $45,000 – $55,000 | $65,000 – $95,000 | $100,000 – $150,000 | $150,000 – $500,000+ |
| Los Angeles | $42,000 – $52,000 | $60,000 – $90,000 | $95,000 – $140,000 | $150,000 – $500,000+ |
| Miami | $38,000 – $48,000 | $55,000 – $85,000 | $90,000 – $130,000 | $120,000 – $400,000 |
| Chicago | $35,000 – $45,000 | $50,000 – $80,000 | $85,000 – $120,000 | $100,000 – $300,000 |
| San Francisco | $40,000 – $50,000 | $60,000 – $90,000 | $95,000 – $140,000 | $130,000 – $400,000 |
| Las Vegas | $35,000 – $45,000 | $50,000 – $75,000 | $80,000 – $110,000 | $100,000 – $250,000 |
| Boston | $38,000 – $48,000 | $55,000 – $85,000 | $90,000 – $125,000 | $110,000 – $300,000 |
| Atlanta | $32,000 – $42,000 | $45,000 – $75,000 | $80,000 – $110,000 | $100,000 – $250,000 |
| Dallas | $33,000 – $43,000 | $48,000 – $78,000 | $85,000 – $115,000 | $100,000 – $250,000 |
| Seattle | $36,000 – $46,000 | $52,000 – $82,000 | $88,000 – $120,000 | $110,000 – $280,000 |
| Houston | $32,000 – $42,000 | $45,000 – $75,000 | $80,000 – $110,000 | $100,000 – $250,000 |
| Washington DC | $38,000 – $48,000 | $55,000 – $85,000 | $90,000 – $125,000 | $110,000 – $300,000 |
Makeup Artist Salaries Across California
| California City | Entry Level (Annual) | Mid-Career (Annual) | Experienced (Annual) | Celebrity/Top Artists | Average Per Project |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $42,000 – $52,000 | $60,000 – $90,000 | $95,000 – $140,000 | $150,000 – $500,000+ | $150 – $3,000 |
| San Francisco | $40,000 – $50,000 | $60,000 – $90,000 | $95,000 – $140,000 | $130,000 – $400,000 | $125 – $2,500 |
| San Diego | $35,000 – $45,000 | $50,000 – $80,000 | $85,000 – $120,000 | $100,000 – $250,000 | $100 – $2,000 |
| Sacramento | $32,000 – $42,000 | $45,000 – $75,000 | $80,000 – $110,000 | $90,000 – $200,000 | $85 – $1,800 |
| San Jose | $38,000 – $48,000 | $55,000 – $85,000 | $90,000 – $130,000 | $110,000 – $300,000 | $100 – $2,200 |
| Orange County | $38,000 – $48,000 | $55,000 – $85,000 | $90,000 – $130,000 | $110,000 – $300,000 | $125 – $2,500 |
| Beverly Hills | $45,000 – $55,000 | $65,000 – $95,000 | $100,000 – $150,000 | $150,000 – $500,000+ | $200 – $5,000 |
| Santa Monica | $40,000 – $50,000 | $60,000 – $90,000 | $95,000 – $140,000 | $120,000 – $350,000 | $150 – $3,000 |
| Palm Springs | $32,000 – $42,000 | $45,000 – $75,000 | $80,000 – $110,000 | $90,000 – $200,000 | $100 – $2,000 |
| Santa Barbara | $35,000 – $45,000 | $50,000 – $80,000 | $85,000 – $120,000 | $100,000 – $250,000 | $125 – $2,500 |
Makeup Artist earnings across different countries:
In the US, professional makeup artists can expect an average base salary of $45,000 to $100,000 per year. In major cities like New York or Los Angeles, celebrity makeup artists and others can make much more — anywhere between $150,000 and $500,000 annually. Starting salaries for entry-level jobs are around $35,000 per year.
UK Makeup Artists in the UK usually have a yearly salary of £20,000 — £40,000 ($25,000 — $50,000) for standard work. Artists in London can request even higher fees with the rate typically ranging from £35,000 to £75,000 ($44,000 to $95,000).
Film and TV professionals at the top of their field can make over £100,000 ($127,000) a year.
The average salary of makeup artists in Australia is between AUD 50,000 and AUD 80,000 ($33,000 and $53,000) per year. Rates are higher for those based in Sydney or Melbourne, from AUD 65,000 to AUD 120,000 ($43,000 to $79,000). Annual salaries paid to celebrity makeup artists can exceed AUD 150,000 ($99,000).
Canadian makeup artists can expect to earn CAD 35,000 to CAD 75,000 ($26,000 to $56,000) per year. Salaries in larger centres such as Toronto and Vancouver for someone with relevant experience start from CAD 80,000 up to CAD 120,000 ($59,000 — $89,000). This can go up to over CAD 150,000 ($111,000) for top artists in the film industry.
France In France, especially in Paris, a makeup artist can have an annual salary of €25,000 to €50,000 ($27,000 to $54,000). For those makeup artists specializing in high-fashion for luxury brands, the earning potential is between €60,000 and €120,000 ($65,000 and $130,000). Leading fashion professionals can make upwards of €150,000 ($163,000).
The Salary of a Makeup Artist in Japan : Japanese makeup artists earn on average between ¥3,000,000 to ¥6,000,000 ($20,000 to $40,000) per year. Fashion industry professionals in Tokyo can reach ¥ 7,000,000- ¥ 12,000,000 (around $47,000- $80,000). Top celebrity makeup artists can earn over ¥15,000,000 ($100,000.00).
In South Korea, average salaries of Korean makeup artists range from ₩25,000,000 to ₩45,000,000 ($19,000 to $34,000) per year. For those involving with K-pop stars and entertainment companies: ₩50,000,000 to ₩100,000,000 ($38,000 to $76,000) Leading entertainers can receive ₩150,000,000 ($114,000) or more.
United Arab Emirates Makeup artist annual salary in UAE, especially Dubai is in the range of AED 60,000 to AED 120,000 ($16,000 to $33,000). Established Artist with high budget clients – AED 150,000 to AED 300,000 ($41,000 to $82,000) Professionals at the top of their game working with royalty and celebrities can earn in excess of AED 500,000 ($136,000).
Salary Netherlandpay ratesThe salary for Italy Italian makeup artists is in the range of €20,000 to €45,000 ($22,000 to $49,000) per year, particularly across Milan’s fashion industry.
Fashion weeks and luxury brand experience lift salaries to the range of €50,000 to €100,000 ($54,000 to $109,000). Big Names Can Earn €120,000 ($130,000) and Up
Annual Salary: R$30,000 to R$70,000 ($6,000 to $14,000) for Brazilian makeup artists. If we talk about São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, professionals with experience can expect to earn R$80.000 to R$150.000 ($16.000 to $30.000) Makeup artists for celebrities and in TV can earn over R$200,000 ($40,000).
Makeup artists in Singapore can make SGD 30,000 to SGD 60,000 ($22,000 to $45,000) a year. Professionals with experience may earn SGD 70,000 to SGD 120,000 ($52,000 to $89,000).
Stars that do celebrity and fashion work can exceed SGD 150,000 ($112,000).
These earnings can differ significantly depending on the country location (within the country), years of experience, clientele, and industry specialty (fashion, film, bridal, etc.). These vary based on local cost of living, market needs, and the overall economic climate in the country in question.
Conclusion
The profession offers significant earning potential, particularly for those who develop their skills, build a strong reputation, and diversify their service offerings.
While entry-level positions might start modest, the opportunity for growth and increased earnings is substantial for dedicated professionals who continuously evolve their craft and business acumen.
