As of October 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Makeup Artist in District of Columbia is $68,176, equivalent to $33 per hour, $1,311 weekly, or $5,681 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Makeup Artist in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Makeup Artist in District of Columbia vary widely, spanning from $44,795 to $82,552. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($55,937) and 75th percentile ($75,701), while top earners (90th percentile) make $82,552 per year. This $19,764 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Customer Service or Credit Card, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Makeup Artist often earn 10.7% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 39 companies. However, District of Columbia currently ranks 1 nationwide for Makeup Artist job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like Healthcare to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Makeup Artist Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Makeup Artist Salary $44,795 DC October 01, 2026
25th Percentile Makeup Artist Salary $55,937 DC October 01, 2026
50th Percentile Makeup Artist Salary $68,176 DC October 01, 2026
75th Percentile Makeup Artist Salary $75,701 DC October 01, 2026
90th Percentile Makeup Artist Salary $82,552 DC October 01, 2026
25% $55,937 10% $44,795 90% $82,552 75% $75,701 $68,176 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Makeup Artist ?

A make-up artist or makeup artist is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and prosthetics on others for theatre, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions including all aspects of the modeling industry. Awards given for this profession in the entertainment industry include the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling and even several entertainment industry awards such as the Emmy Awards and the Golden Globes. In the United States as well as the other parts of the globe, professional licenses are required by agencies in order for them to hire t...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Naval Anacost Annex, DC Avg. Salary $64,123 Date Updated October 01, 2026
Location Parcel Return Service, DC Avg. Salary $64,125 Date Updated October 01, 2026
Location Washington, DC Avg. Salary $64,126 Date Updated October 01, 2026
Location Washington Navy Yard, DC Avg. Salary $64,125 Date Updated October 01, 2026
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