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Makeup artists are beauty practitioners who offer general makeup services or work in prosthetic design. Their primary duties include enhancing facial aesthetics through makeup, creating custom looks for clients, and working with actors on movie sets.

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Learn about the key requirements, duties, responsibilities, and skills that should be in a makeup artist job description.

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Make-up artists usually work indoors and are often required to work long hours with super early starts, in what can be stressful situations. They may also be required to travel to different locations for photo shoots, movie productions or to clients' homes. Many make-up artists are self-employed.

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What they do

Make-up artists design and apply makeup to actors, presenters and models, and for special occasions such as bridal parties. They may also work for cosmetic companies applying makeup, advising customers about the most suitable products and selling products. They may be involved in preparing skin for makeup, applying makeup, giving advice about makeup, maintaining makeup during photo/film shoots, and liaising with hairdressers about hairstyles and makeup. They may also use makeup to produce special effects such as ageing or injuries (bruises and scars) or for specialised characters in a movie. They may need to work with wigs, false beards or masks and artificial body parts to create the required look for a character.

Working conditions

Make-up artists usually work indoors and are often required to work long hours with super early starts, in what can be stressful situations. They may also be required to travel to different locations for photo shoots, movie productions or to clients' homes. Many make-up artists are self-employed. It may be necessary to move interstate or overseas to gain experience and earn a higher income in this competitive industry.

Tools and technologies

Make-up artists need to be creative and have a good understanding about different bone structures. They also need to be proficient with a wide variety of make-up products as well as wigs, beards, masks and prosthetics (artificial body parts) to help enable them create a required appearance.

Education and training

You can work as a make-up artist without any formal qualifications and get training on the job. However, entry into this occupation may be improved by obtaining a qualification in makeup and skin care, or beauty services.

The Certificate III in Make-Up, Diploma of Beauty Therapy, Diploma of Screen and Media (Creative Makeup) and the Diploma of Screen and Media (Specialist Makeup) are offered at TAFE Colleges and other registered training organisations throughout Western Australia.

Browse courses through Jobs and Skills WA and search on the My Skills website to find a registered provider near you.

You can also undertake a traineeship in retail cosmetic services (level 2) or make-up services (level 2). The traineeships usually take 12 months to complete, and are available as school-based traineeships.

Learn more about your study options.

Apprenticeships and traineeships

As an apprentice or trainee, you enter into a formal training contract with an employer, enabling you to complete training towards a nationally recognised qualification. You spend time working and learning practical skills on the job and you spend some time undertaking structured training with a registered training provider.

You can do an apprenticeship or traineeship if you are a school-leaver, re-entering the workforce or as an adult or mature-aged person wishing to change careers. You can even begin your apprenticeship or traineeship while you're still at school.

If you are still at school you can access an apprenticeship through your school. Talk to your school's VET Co-ordinator to start your training now through VET in Schools. If you are no longer at school you can apply for an apprenticeship or traineeship and get paid while you learn and work.

Required registration and licensing

N/A

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department of training and workforce development

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Make-up artists design and apply makeup to actors, presenters and models, and for special occasions such as bridal parties. They may also work for cosmetic companies applying makeup, advising customers about the most suitable products and selling products.

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Pennsylvania: $32.94 per hour

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Demand for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance is expected to go up, with an expected 2,420 new jobs filled by 2029. This represents an annual increase of 9.67 percent over the next few years.

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Also known as:
Special Effects Makeup Artist

The overall job outlook for Makeup Artist, Theatrical or Performance careers has been relatively unchanged since 2004. Vacancies for this career have slightly increased by 162.26 percent nationwide in that time, with an average growth of 10.14 percent per year. Demand for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance is expected to go up, with an expected 2,420 new jobs filled by 2029. This represents an annual increase of 9.67 percent over the next few years. Join our career community today!

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Career Outlook and Job Vacancies for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

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Get the complete outlook for Makeup Artist, Theatrical or Performance careers. Use our job growth and job vacancy research data for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance to plan your career. Find out if Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance are in demand, or in decline.

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To become a makeup artist in Pennsylvania you will need to have a license issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology. You can choose between earning a general cosmetology license or a more specific esthetician license. Either of these licenses will allow you to work as a professional makeup artist.

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How to Become a Makeup Artist | Education, Training, Exam and Licensing Requirements

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Whether you want to work as a makeup artist in fashion, movies, salons, broadcast media, or the performing arts, Pennsylvania has a place for you.

Philadelphia was named the second-best American city in which to make a movie by MovieMaker magazine, and according to Nielsen Media Research Philadelphia has the fourth largest media market in the nation. Movies like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, The Dark Knight Rises, and classics like Rocky were all filmed in Pennsylvania.

In addition to its well-established film industry, Pennsylvania is also a state that supports the arts. As a makeup artist you will find this benefits your employment prospects, especially if you are interested in working for theatre or dance companies, fashion events, and other state performance events.

How to Become a Makeup Artist in Pennsylvania

To become a makeup artist in Pennsylvania you will need to have a license issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology. You can choose between earning a general cosmetology license or a more specific esthetician license. Either of these licenses will allow you to work as a professional makeup artist.
Esthetician License
To become an esthetician you will need to complete an approved program of study that is at least 300 hours in length, then pass an esthetician exam.

As an esthetician you will be able to provide makeup artistry services, as well as:

Do face massages

Apply antiseptics, tonics, lotions, and creams to your clients' faces

Use tweezers, wax, or depilatories to remove extra hairs

Dye of eyelashes and eyebrows

Cosmetology License
To become a cosmetologist you will need to complete an approved program of study that is at least 1,250 hours in length or an approved apprenticeship that is at least 2,000 hours in length. After this you must also pass a cosmetologist examination.

As a cosmetologist you will be able to perform the cosmetology services associated with all of the following professional classes:

Esthetician

Nail technician

Natural hair braider

Hair dresser and hair stylist

Makeup Artist Education in Pennsylvania
There are literally hundreds of teachers throughout Pennsylvania who are licensed to instruct prospective cosmetologists and estheticians. Once you have located an ideal makeup artist school, you can check to make sure your instructor is licensed to teach either cosmetology or esthetics through the Pennsylvania Department of State's license verification webpage. To be eligible for a license your instruction must be from a licensed professional.

Whether you are pursuing a cosmetology or esthetician license, the classes that cover makeup artistry should be more or less the same, and include subjects like:

Bacteriology, disinfection, and sanitation

Business practices and a professional attitude

Pennsylvania cosmetology law

Skincare

Makeup application techniques

Science of makeup

Temporary hair removal

Eyelash and eyebrow styling and shaping

Career Opportunities in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's makeup artists work at professional beauty salons, on the sets of major film productions, and as the backbone of theatre and other artistic performance troupes.
Top Salons in Pennsylvania
One of the most obvious venues where you can find work as a makeup artist are salons and beauty parlors. These are one of the strongest employers of makeup professionals in the state, with well-known establishments including:

Rescue Spa in Philadelphia

Sage Spa in Fort Washington

Giovanni and Pileggi in Philadelphia

Makeup Design by Lyndsie Hinch in Pittsburgh

Oliver's Salon and Day Spa in Allentown

Besides salons and beauty parlors, you may also consider working for cosmetic companies or in major cosmetic outlets. Macy's in Pittsburgh was recently advertising a vacancy for an beauty artist and sales adviser. The Estee Lauder beauty brand was also recently looking to hire a qualified makeup artist in Pittsburgh.
Film and Television Production Companies in Pennsylvania
Film studios are one of the leading employers of makeup artists. You can find the following companies located in the state's larger cities:

Center City Film & Video in Philadelphia

Sun Center Studios close to Philadelphia

Kinocraft in Philadelphia

31st Street Studios in Pittsburgh

Aurora Films in Lancaster

You may be also interested in pursuing makeup artist jobs through television broadcast companies that have major production studios throughout the state. You could work with news anchors and other broadcast personalities for the major networks such as ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and PBS.
Pennsylvania's Performing Arts
Makeup artists play an essential role in the presentation of major performing arts, music, and theatre events throughout the state. This includes with internationally-renown groups like:

Opera Company of Philadelphia

Philadelphia Theater Company

Koresh Dance Company

Pittsburgh Opera

Top Cities for Makeup Artists in Pennsylvania
While localities throughout the state offer fashionable districts for makeup artists to set up shop, three cities in particular have a vibrant culture of arts that thoroughly supports makeup professionals:

Philadelphia

Annual Live Arts Festival and First Friday art design and fashion event

Old City, Northern Liberties, and Rittenhouse trendy neighborhood districts

Approximately 120 theater organizations in the Philadelphia area

Home to the broadcast studios of major television productions including American Bandstand, Double Dare and The Mike Douglas Show

Pittsburgh

City with a 116-year-old film industry and the location of the world's first movie theater

Three Rivers Arts Festival

Largest sound stage in the nation outside of New York and LA

Trendy neighborhoods like the Cultural District, Lawrenceville, and East Carson Street

Allentown

Annual Mayfair Festival of the Arts

Bethlehem Film Festival

SouthSide Film Festival

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Makeup Artist School in Pennsylvania | How to Become a Makeup Artist in PA

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Whether you want to work as a makeup artist in fashion, movies, salons, broadcast media, or the performing arts, Pennsylvania has a place for you.

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Chasse Permanent Makeup. Pittsburgh, PA. Make-Up Artist Training.

Color Vanity Training. Pittsburgh, PA. ...

Gorgeous Artistry. Aspinwall, PA. ...

Metro Beauty Academy – Accredited. Allentown, PA. ...

Pittsburgh Makeup. Greensburg, PA. ...

Studio KP. Philadelphia, PA. ...

The Fine Arts of Beauty. Cranberry Township, PA.

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Having a career as a makeup-artist in Pennsylvania is very rewarding. The field of make-up artistry allows you to be creative and make a person feel beautiful.

Find Make-Up Artist Training Programs in Pennsylvania

School Accreditation

You must attend a school that is approved by your state to provide training in the discipline you want to practice. Check with the school and the state board to be sure that your program of study will prepare you for any applicable state licensure.

Since it can be hard to find programs that focus on makeup only, it's a good idea to evaluate complete cosmetology programs as options. Not only can you prepare for your license requirements, if required, but you can learn a broader range of skills. Hair and esthetics training can prove valuable if you want to qualify for more career opportunities.

Overview of Make-up Artist Curriculum in Pennsylvania

Make up artist schools in PA offer programs that teach you skills necessary to apply make-up. You'll learn how to properly apply blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara. You'll be taught various techniques to create unique looks. Your coursework will assist you in learning how to identify which colors look best on different skins tones, and how to highlight a person's best features and how to hide flaws. Certain schools will educate you on special effects makeup. You may want to consider taking a full cosmetology program, which will teach you the basics of make-up application and teach you how to cut and style hair, too.

Make-up Artist Licensing in Pennsylvania

Make-up artists in Pennsylvania aren't required to obtain any form of licensing specifically related to make-up. There is, however, the option to become a licensed cosmetologist, which will require you to take a cosmetology program that lasts at least 1,250 hours. You can opt to finish a 2,000-hour apprenticeship, which will cover make-up techniques and sanitation procedures. You must have at least a 10th-grade education or its equivalent to work as a make-up artist.

Employment Outlook for Make-up Artists in Pennsylvania

Make-up artists make an average of $32.49 per hour or $67,580 when they work as theatrical make-up artists. The top paid individuals make $117,720 per year or more, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. PA makes the BLS's list of top five states with the highest employment level for theatrical make-up artists. It's ranked number four on the BLS's top-paying states list. On average, a person will make $26.76 or $55,660 in PA. The BLS also ranks PA as the state with the third highest level of jobs for cosmetologists. PA is the state with the second high concentration of jobs in cosmetology, and Philadelphia is one of the U.S. metropolises with the highest level of employment in cosmetology.

Check out the cosmetology programs below to find out how you can learn professional makeup artistry skills!

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Makeup Schools in Pennsylvania | Contact PA Schools

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Want to get started in the makeup industry? Start here by exploring your options as a makeup artist and find makeup schools in Pennsylvania!

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There are several pros and cons of being a makeup artist; the pros include the ability to be creative and the need for no formal education, while the cons include salary restrictions and a random work schedule.

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By Roger Raber - Feb. 20, 2023
There are several pros and cons of being a makeup artist; the pros include the ability to be creative and the need for no formal education, while the cons include salary restrictions and a random work schedule.
Here is a more detailed list of the pros and cons related to being a makeup artist:
Pros:

The ability to be creative. Makeup artists are often asked to create a desired look. It is up to the artist to determine how to achieve that look. In some cases, artists are given carte blanche and allowed to apply their creativity at will.

Interesting work. No two days will ever be the same for a makeup artist. Some makeup artists work on movie and TV commercial sets while others may work for cosmetic retailers. Regardless of your role in the world of makeup, clientele and work environment change frequently.

No formal education. Unlike many professions, the path to becoming a makeup artist does not require a college degree or formal training. While some artists may attend a beauty academy, many others take online courses or learn techniques by watching internet tutorials.

Cons:

Restricted earning potential. The average salary for a makeup artist with little experience starts at $27,000 and averages $45,500 per year. While salaries in New York and Los Angeles are higher, it is a reflection of the cost of living in those cities. The industry dictates salary with few artists able to demand more than what has been established as an industry standard. Makeup artists do not typically receive bonuses, nor do they always receive benefits as 46% of makeup artists are self-employed.

Required to move. Being a makeup artist may not be ideal for someone who would like to remain in a single location. This profession is focused in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Las Vegas. Moving to one of these destinations may be necessary to find steady work. Artists may also have to travel with their clients. Movie sets change locations frequently and Broadway touring companies travel the country.

Random work schedule. Actors and performers do not have typical work hours, and makeup artists are often required to work weekends, holidays, and unusual hours. Working as a makeup artist for a retailer in a mall or shopping center requires the same flexibility related to work hours. Additionally, contracts for self-employed makeup artists may be short and inconsistent. A job may last only as long as a performance or engagement is in town. Artists must be comfortable with the uncertainty connected to this type of work.

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What are the pros and cons of being a makeup artist?

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There are several pros and cons of being a makeup artist; the pros include the ability to be creative and the need for no formal education, while the cons include salary restrictions and a random work schedule.Here is a more detailed list of the pros and cons related to being a makeup artist:Pros:The ability to be creative.