What are the main factors that influence a Retail Makeup Artist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change a Retail Makeup Artist's salary?

A Retail Makeup Artist's salary grows with experience: starting around $32,662 for beginners, reaching about $33,559 at mid-level, and approach $34,547 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Retail Makeup Artist?

Retail Makeup Artist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Retail Makeup Artist roles are District of Columbia $37,156, California $37,015, Massachusetts $36,522. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Retail Makeup Artist roles make?

Salaries for Retail Makeup Artist level roles vary by specialization: Makeup Consultant: $81,366; Mac Makeup Artist: $73,578; Special Effects Makeup Artist: $62,016; Makeup Artist: $61,493; 3D Production Artist - Retail Visualization Special: $59,566.

How do different companies affect a Retail Makeup Artist's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Retail Makeup Artist roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Retail Makeup Artist Salary in the United States

How much does a Retail Makeup Artist make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Retail Makeup Artist in the United States is $33,559 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $16.

However, a Retail Makeup Artist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $38,697
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $31,424 to $36,248
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $29,480

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

AI Onboarding

Smart Recruiting

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Retail Makeup Artist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$36,248	$3,021	$697	$17
Average	$33,559	$2,797	$645	$16
25th Percentile	$31,424	$2,619	$604	$15

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Retail Makeup Artist Job Openings in the United States

Registered Nurse Hospice Kennebunk

Constellation Health Services - KENNEBUNK, ME

Dental Hygienist

EV Richardson III, DDS - MARION, VA

COTA Immediate Hire

Sunset Lake Health and Rehabilitation Center - VENICE, FL

Senior Attorney

Hope's Door - HAWTHORNE, NY

Search More Retail Makeup Artist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Retail Makeup Artist Salaries

A Retail Makeup Artist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Retail Makeup Artist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Retail Makeup Artist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $32,662
Early Career (1-2 years): $32,821
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $33,559
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $34,350
Expert (over 8 years): $34,547

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Retail Makeup Artist	$32,662
Intermediate Level Retail Makeup Artist	$32,821
Senior Level Retail Makeup Artist	$33,559
Specialist Level Retail Makeup Artist	$34,350
Expert Level Retail Makeup Artist	$34,547

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Retail Makeup Artist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Retail Makeup Artists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $37,156.
California: $37,015.
Massachusetts: $36,522.

District of Columbia $37,156 California $37,015 Massachusetts $36,522 Washington $36,388 New Jersey $36,374 Alaska $36,327 Connecticut $35,864 New York $35,676

Hawaii $35,076 Rhode Island $34,794 Maryland $34,602 Minnesota $34,341 Colorado $34,240 Illinois $34,206 Oregon $34,079 Delaware $33,985

New Hampshire $33,926 Virginia $33,794 Pennsylvania $33,408 Nevada $33,213 North Dakota $33,149 Michigan $33,049 Wisconsin $33,012 Vermont $32,938

Texas $32,733 Maine $32,720 Arizona $32,700 Ohio $32,676 Georgia $32,367 Indiana $32,213 Wyoming $32,183 Utah $32,136

Iowa $32,116 Kansas $31,955 Louisiana $31,908 North Carolina $31,891 Missouri $31,884 Florida $31,753 Montana $31,683 Nebraska $31,616

Kentucky $31,579 South Carolina $31,445 Tennessee $31,361 Idaho $31,327 New Mexico $31,082 Oklahoma $31,028 Alabama $30,830 South Dakota $30,498

Arkansas $30,317 West Virginia $30,220 Mississippi $29,928

Top Paying Cities for Retail Makeup Artists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $42,328
San Francisco: $41,911
Oakland: $40,982

San Jose, CA $42,328

San Francisco, CA $41,911

Oakland, CA $40,982

New York, NY $38,891

Queens Village, NY $38,639

Paramus, NJ $38,371

Passaic, NJ $38,337

Bergenfield, NJ $38,304

Stamford, CT $38,254

Huntington, NY $38,220

Newark, NJ $38,002

Bridgeport, CT $37,935

New Brunswick, NJ $37,824

Vallejo, CA $37,754

Middlesex, NJ $37,733

Somerset, NJ $37,703

Petaluma, CA $37,626

Santa Cruz, CA $37,495

Boston, MA $37,428

Monterey, CA $37,260

Fairbanks, AK $37,237

Los Angeles, CA $37,173

Washington, DC $37,156

Seattle, WA $37,096

Santa Rosa, CA $37,089

Juneau, AK $36,992

Orange, CA $36,881

Anchorage, AK $36,821

Anaheim, CA $36,797

Santa Ana, CA $36,747

Nassau, NY $36,727

Long Beach, CA $36,713

Danbury, CT $36,703

Santa Maria, CA $36,589

Everett, WA $36,582

Bremerton, WA $36,418

Trenton, NJ $36,354

Sacramento, CA $36,341

San Diego, CA $36,324

Brockton, MA $36,311

Tacoma, WA $36,297

Santa Barbara, CA $36,250

Lowell, MA $36,116

New Suffolk, NY $36,102

Nashua, NH $36,062

Lompoc, CA $36,008

Ventura, CA $35,975

Stockton, CA $35,965

New Haven, CT $35,898

Atlantic City, NJ $35,810

Hartford, CT $35,737

Modesto, CA $35,720

Poughkeepsie, NY $35,646

New Britain, CT $35,629

Olympia, WA $35,582

Kennewick, WA $35,582

New London, CT $35,576

Norwich, CT $35,566

Lawrence, MA $35,549

Bakersfield, CA $35,455

Riverside, CA $35,408

New Bedford, MA $35,408

Richland, WA $35,374

Portsmouth, NH $35,347

Vineland, NJ $35,341

San Bernardino, CA $35,314

Boulder, CO $35,220

Worcester, MA $35,193

Portland, OR $35,163

Saint Paul, MN $35,123

Minneapolis, MN $35,123

Philadelphia, PA $35,076

Honolulu, HI $34,898

Springfield, MA $34,780

Providence, RI $34,777

Chicago, IL $34,680

Bellingham, WA $34,639

Baltimore, MD $34,602

Chico, CA $34,518

Wilmington, DE $34,461

Pittsfield, MA $34,428

Manchester, NH $34,364

Spokane, WA $34,216

Denver, CO $34,213

Albany, NY $34,055

Troy, NY $34,042

Schenectady, NY $33,971

Burlington, VT $33,898

Portland, ME $33,780

Salem, OR $33,753

Yakima, WA $33,747

Ann Arbor, MI $33,737

Rochester, MN $33,643

Fresno, CA $33,626

Reno, NV $33,626

Milwaukee, WI $33,596

Detroit, MI $33,562

Allentown, PA $33,552

Carson City, NV $33,549

Houston, TX $33,498

Colorado Springs, CO $33,495

Syracuse, NY $33,478

Eugene, OR $33,414

Bismarck, ND $33,374

Gary, IN $33,374

Galveston, TX $33,374

Springfield, OR $33,347

Medford, OR $33,267

Fort Collins, CO $33,253

Austin, TX $33,226

Mesa, AZ $33,156

Phoenix, AZ $33,149

Dallas, TX $33,139

Reading, PA $33,119

Saint Cloud, MN $33,106

Concord, NH $33,075

Madison, WI $33,062

Utica, NY $32,971

Raleigh, NC $32,945

Las Vegas, NV $32,941

Rochester, NY $32,918

Des Moines, IA $32,914

Atlanta, GA $32,861

Battle Creek, MI $32,851

Salt Lake City, UT $32,841

Lancaster, PA $32,790

Champaign, IL $32,783

Harrisburg, PA $32,743

Durham, NC $32,713

Kansas City, MO $32,710

Kansas City, KS $32,703

Fort Worth, TX $32,700

Boca Raton, FL $32,686

Cleveland, OH $32,683

Columbus, OH $32,676

Pittsburgh, PA $32,673

Richmond, VA $32,659

Indianapolis, IN $32,653

Cincinnati, OH $32,609

Petersburg, VA $32,559

Billings, MT $32,485

Lansing, MI $32,485

Huntsville, AL $32,485

Lebanon, PA $32,481

Dayton, OH $32,478

Pueblo, CO $32,478

Appleton, WI $32,468

Buffalo, NY $32,455

Racine, WI $32,438

Charlotte, NC $32,434

Saint Louis, MO $32,424

Springfield, IL $32,411

Elkhart, IN $32,404

York, PA $32,404

Gastonia, NC $32,401

Benton Harbor, MI $32,401

Beaumont, TX $32,381

Lorain, OH $32,374

Toledo, OH $32,361

Binghamton, NY $32,344

Rock Hill, SC $32,341

Rockford, IL $32,324

Fargo, ND $32,307

Elyria, OH $32,307

Flagstaff, AZ $32,283

Fort Lauderdale, FL $32,263

Miami, FL $32,243

Duluth, MN $32,190

Bangor, ME $32,146

Cedar Rapids, IA $32,109

Louisville, KY $32,092

Grand Rapids, MI $32,085

Hialeah, FL $32,082

Casper, WY $32,035

Scranton, PA $31,995

New Orleans, LA $31,985

Virginia Beach, VA $31,981

Akron, OH $31,965

Peoria, IL $31,921

Sarasota, FL $31,914

Green Bay, WI $31,891

Baton Rouge, LA $31,874

Charleston, SC $31,867

Nashville, TN $31,857

Jamestown, NY $31,851

Davenport, IA $31,851

Tucson, AZ $31,834

Cheyenne, WY $31,824

Saint Petersburg, FL $31,814

Tampa, FL $31,807

Omaha, NE $31,800

Port Arthur, TX $31,787

Evansville, IN $31,787

Bradenton, FL $31,773

Santa Fe, NM $31,713

Orlando, FL $31,679

Clearwater, FL $31,642

Canton, OH $31,572

La Crosse, WI $31,572

Grand Forks, ND $31,562

Albuquerque, NM $31,552

Tulsa, OK $31,552

Newport News, VA $31,549

High Point, NC $31,538

Ogden, UT $31,525

Corpus Christi, TX $31,498

Laramie, WY $31,478

Norfolk, VA $31,478

Rock Island, IL $31,458

Saginaw, MI $31,451

Jacksonville, FL $31,448

Salisbury, NC $31,441

Memphis, TN $31,434

Moline, IL $31,418

Fort Myers, FL $31,408

Waterloo, IA $31,364

Spartanburg, SC $31,330

Lincoln, NE $31,314

Fort Wayne, IN $31,307

Birmingham, AL $31,270

Cedar Falls, IA $31,263

Provo, UT $31,260

Springfield, OH $31,257

San Antonio, TX $31,250

Greensboro, NC $31,236

South Bend, IN $31,233

Winston Salem, NC $31,230

Boise, ID $31,220

Savannah, GA $31,196

Muskegon, MI $31,136

Lima, OH $31,095

Lake Charles, LA $31,082

Anderson, IN $31,075

Lexington, KY $31,065

Augusta, GA $31,055

Greenville, SC $31,055

Wichita, KS $31,025

Tuscaloosa, AL $31,025

Columbia, SC $30,995

Bloomington, IN $30,911

Roanoke, VA $30,891

Asheville, NC $30,847

Knoxville, TN $30,790

Shreveport, LA $30,787

Wilmington, NC $30,743

Frankfort, KY $30,679

Oklahoma City, OK $30,656

Chillicothe, OH $30,642

Longview, TX $30,639

Topeka, KS $30,629

Mobile, AL $30,579

Terre Haute, IN $30,565

Erie, PA $30,562

Altoona, PA $30,545

Melbourne, FL $30,535

Amarillo, TX $30,522

Killeen, TX $30,512

Fayetteville, AR $30,485

Sioux Falls, SD $30,461

Chattanooga, TN $30,441

Idaho Falls, ID $30,438

Gainesville, FL $30,367

Portsmouth, OH $30,350

Little Rock, AR $30,344

Lynchburg, VA $30,344

Lafayette, LA $30,330

Youngstown, OH $30,330

Temple, TX $30,317

Daytona Beach, FL $30,310

Clarksville, TN $30,307

Pensacola, FL $30,304

Hopkinsville, KY $30,203

Charleston, WV $30,199

Florence, SC $30,183

Sioux City, IA $30,163

Macon, GA $30,065

Tallahassee, FL $30,062

Fayetteville, NC $30,055

Waco, TX $30,048

Wichita Falls, TX $30,048

Pine Bluff, AR $30,035

Vincennes, IN $29,971

Lubbock, TX $29,958

Great Falls, MT $29,938

Alamogordo, NM $29,934

Abilene, TX $29,908

Rapid City, SD $29,864

Monroe, LA $29,864

Albany, GA $29,844

Huntington, WV $29,840

Jackson, MS $29,837

Greenville, MS $29,834

Parkersburg, WV $29,800

Montgomery, AL $29,793

Johnstown, PA $29,787

Springfield, MO $29,760

Biloxi, MS $29,743

Sumter, SC $29,673

Columbus, GA $29,669

Twin Falls, ID $29,649

Pascagoula, MS $29,605

Kingsport, TN $29,518

Gulfport, MS $29,508

Alexandria, LA $29,397

Fort Smith, AR $29,314

El Paso, TX $29,223

Helena, MT $29,179

Las Cruces, NM $29,072

Harlingen, TX $28,978

Pocatello, ID $28,948

Florence, AL $28,938

Brownsville, TX $28,931

Dothan, AL $28,877

Mcallen, TX $28,860

Columbus, MS $28,612

Altus, OK $28,458

Lawton, OK $28,394

Pierre, SD $28,273

What Skills Can Increase a Retail Makeup Artist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Commitment (Mentioned in 10.31% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Square (Mentioned in 1.79% Job Postings): Square in geometry, a plane figure with four equal sides and four right (90°) angles. A square is a special kind of rectangle and a special kind of parallelogram.
Container (Mentioned in 1% Job Postings): Container is an object used for or capable of holding, esp for transport or storage, such as a carton, box, etc.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Commitment	10.31%
Square	1.79%
Container	1%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Retail Makeup Artist's salary.

Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Team Building: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Leadership	$35,237	5%
Initiative	$34,901	4%
Team Building	$34,901	4%
Presentation	$34,565	3%
Organizing	$34,565	3%
Catering	$34,565	3%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Retail Makeup Artist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Retail Makeup Artists enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Retail Makeup Artist with a No Diploma is between $34,264 and $36,129).

Retail Makeup Artist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Retail Makeup Artist

No Diploma 10.9%

High School 29.7%

Associates 45.3%

Bachelors 14.1%

Masters 0.0%

Doctorate 0.0%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	10.9%
High School	29.7%
Associates	45.3%
Bachelors	14.1%
Masters	0.0%
Doctorate	0.0%

view as graph

Retail Makeup Artist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Retail Makeup Artist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

$31,424

Average $33,559/year

$36,248

$2,619

Average $2,797/month

$3,021

$604

Average $645/week

$697

$15

Average $16/hour

$17

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$36,248	$3,021	$697	$17
Average	$33,559	$2,797	$645	$16
25th Percentile	$31,424	$2,619	$604	$15

Salaries of jobs related to Retail Makeup Artist

Salary Trends for Retail Makeup Artist

Salaries for a Retail Makeup Artist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $32,687 in 2023 to around $31,938 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Retail Makeup Artist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Retail Makeup Artist Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$32,687

2024

$32,552

2025

$31,938

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$32,687
2024	$32,552
2025	$31,938
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Retail Makeup Artist

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Retail Makeup Artist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Retail Makeup Artist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about