Also called: Film Makeup Artist, Stage Makeup Artist
Applies makeup for film, TV, theater, and live performance, from beauty looks to aging and wounds.
A film makeup artist preps actors in the makeup trailer, touches up sweat between takes, and creates realistic bruises for a fight scene.
Approximate. BLS data for this small occupation swing widely year to year (published medians from about $50k to $97k); union film work pays far more than local theater or events.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. Makeup school or cosmetology license.
Ways in: Certification, Trade school, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Cosmetology (trade school), Makeup Artistry, Theater.
Growing about average. Small occupation; follows production levels.
Low risk for 10 years. Digital touch-ups reduce some fixes in post, but applying makeup on real performers stays a human craft.
Classes: Art, Cosmetology CTE, Chemistry, Theater tech crew.
Official data: O*NET occupation 39-5091.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.