The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that Tennessee and Nashville is the metropolitan area with the fifth highest rate of employment for makeup artists. This isn’t surprising considering the capital city of Nashville is nicknamed “Music City USA” and is famous as the home of the Grand Ole Opry as well as dozens of live musical and theatrical productions.
Personal Appearance Makeup Artist Salaries in Tennessee
BLS salary estimates for personal appearance makeup artists nationwide reveal the following:
Help wanted ads for makeup artists in the Memphis metropolitan area range from $19,000/year for bridal work to $35,000/year for production work. The aggregate average annual salary for makeup artist jobs in the Nashville metropolitan area is $35,000 – and this is without factoring in tips, which could add as much as 25% to a makeup artist’s take home pay.
Theatrical Makeup Artist Salaries in Tennessee
The BLS lists the following nationwide salaries for theatrical and production makeup artists. Nashville metropolitan area salaries are close to the national norm.
Going to Work as a Makeup Artist in Tennessee
Some schooling is always needed to become a makeup artist, and Tennessee has no shortage of beauty schools that include makeup programs. More detailed training is needed for theatrical makeup than for personal appearance makeup and finding work as an apprentice with an established artist is an excellent option if possible.
Personal appearance make-up artists in Tennessee work in salons, spas, resorts, cosmetics stores, bridal salons and advertising agencies. Others freelance as specialists in bridal or other special occasion makeup.
The following is a Bureau of Labor Statistics table of personal appearance makeup artist salaries for large cities and metropolitan areas in Tennessee.