Texas is one of the best places in the country to pursue a career as a theatrical makeup artist. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Texas is the third highest paying state for this occupation with the fourth highest employment level and the fifth highest concentration of jobs. In addition, Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown is the nation’s third highest paying metropolitan area for theatrical/production makeup artists.
Makeup artists in Texas can focus on theatrical makeup or opt to become a personal appearance makeup artist. Employers of the latter include salons, spas, bridal boutiques and cosmetics companies. Many makeup artists elect to freelance, perhaps specializing in weddings and other celebrations.
Good training is the key to a successful career as either a personal appearance or a theatrical makeup artist. Texas is home to dozens of schools with makeup programs as well as at least one school devoted exclusively to makeup, including beauty makeup and advanced artistry and media makeup.
Personal appearance makeup artists generally earn less than theatrical makeup artists. The BLS posts salaries for personal appearance makeup artists are:
Figures shown do not include gratuity, which typically adds an additional 15% to 25% to the earnings makeup artists take home.
Theatrical/Production Makeup Artist Salaries in Texas
The BLS reports that 60 of the 2,440 theatrical makeup artists (2013) are employed in Texas. The following are BLS estimates for Texas theatrical makeup artist salaries:
Wage tables produced by the Texas Department of Labor/Workforce Development list the following statewide theatrical makeup artist salaries:
Statewide
Gulf Coast
The state estimates that there were 80 theatrical makeup artists working in Texas in 2014 and that number should increase by 25 percent, or to 100 jobs, by 2022.
The following is a Bureau of Labor Statistics table of personal appearance makeup artist salaries for large cities and metropolitan areas in Texas.