Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists vs Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance: $36K vs $97K Median Pay

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists vs Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance: what changes?

Consider Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists if you want to provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. Consider Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance if you would rather apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role. Both list postsecondary nondegree award; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists and Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

National median pay (2025): $35,790
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Keep work stations clean and sanitize tools, such as scissors and combs.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 73,400

Know before you choose

Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

See the full Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists brief

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

National median pay (2025): $97,150
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Clean supplies such as makeup brushes.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 600

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (4,300 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance brief

How the national numbers differ

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists has the edge on annual openings

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists is at 73,400 annual openings, compared with 600 annual openings for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance.

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance has the edge on median pay

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance is at $97,150, compared with $35,790 for Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists.

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists has the edge on projected growth

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists is at 7.7% projected growth, compared with 6.1% projected growth for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance.

58/ 100

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

54.7/ 100

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists vs Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

Dimension	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists	Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
Median pay (2025)	$35,790	$97,150
Pay percentile	4.5 percentile	80.8 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	7.7%	6.1%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	73,400	600
2025 employment	595,000	4,300
How you qualify	Postsecondary nondegree award	Postsecondary nondegree award
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 3
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists brief Read Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance brief

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists vs Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

How the national numbers differ

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists has the edge on annual openings

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance has the edge on median pay

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists has the edge on projected growth

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists vs Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

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