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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

Part of Arts, Audio/Video Technology & Communications, in the Performing Arts pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 39-5091.00

What the work is

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

On a typical day

  • Confer with stage or motion picture officials and performers to determine desired effects.
  • Duplicate work precisely to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis.
  • Establish budgets, and work within budgetary limits.
  • Apply makeup to enhance or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies.
  • Alter or maintain makeup during productions as necessary to compensate for lighting changes or to achieve continuity of effect.
  • Select desired makeup shades from stock, or mix oil, grease, and coloring to achieve specific color effects.

What it pays

$97,150
Median pay per year, United States (no San Antonio figure published)
New workers start near $23,360
Experienced workers reach $167,470
  1. $23k10th
  2. $35k25th
  3. $97kMedian
  4. $143k75th
  5. $167k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $23,360, 25th $34,530, Median $97,150, 75th $143,230, 90th $167,470

Job outlook

U.S. projection, 2024 to 2034.

+8%

U.S. employment change

1,100

openings a year nationwide, from growth and people leaving

7,000

employed nationwide in 2024

Typical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Speaking3.1
  2. Reading Comprehension3.3
  3. Active Listening3.3
  4. Critical Thinking3.3
  5. Judgment and Decision Making3.0
  6. Active Learning3.3
  7. Monitoring3.1
  8. Coordination3.1

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less26%
  2. Certificate43%
  3. Some college13%
  4. Associate degree4%
  5. Bachelor's degree13%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

No Alamo program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.

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