The average salary for a makeup artist in District of Columbia is around $95,730 per year.
Avg Salary
Makeup artists earn an average yearly salary of $95,730.
Wages typically start from $52,000 and go up to $111,870.
2% below national average Updated in 2025
Makeup artist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level makeup artist earnings begin at:
$53.78 per hour
$111,870 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level makeup artist earnings begin at:
$46.02 per hour
$95,730 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level makeup artist earnings begin at:
$46.02 per hour
$95,730 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level makeup artist earnings begin at:
$32.96 per hour
$68,560 per year
10th percentile
Starting level makeup artist earnings begin at:
$25.00 per hour
$52,000 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Makeup artist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $97,150 |
| District of Columbia | $95,730 |
| Florida | $82,400 |
| Tennessee | $77,560 |
| Hawaii | $47,720 |
| Colorado | $45,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,350 |
| Texas | $42,550 |
| New Jersey | $41,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,610 |
| Illinois | $30,100 |
| Nevada | $23,730 |
| Georgia | $143,230 |
| California | $140,870 |
| Louisiana | $129,580 |
How do makeup artist salaries compare to similar careers?
Makeup artists earn about the same as related careers in District of Columbia. On average, they make less than social workers but more than exhibit designers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Social worker salary | $96K |
| Librarian salary | $97K |
| Film and video editor salary | $99K |
| Graphic designer salary | $88K |
| Police officer salary | $89K |
| Makeup artist salary | $96K |
| Private detective salary | $73K |
| Art therapist salary | $96K |
| Esthetician salary | $77K |
| Exhibit designer salary | $77K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)