Makeup Artist Salaries in Tennessee

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that Tennessee and Nashville is the metropolitan area with the fifth highest rate of employment for makeup artists. This isn’t surprising considering the capital city of Nashville is nicknamed “Music City USA” and is famous as the home of the Grand Ole Opry as well as dozens of live musical and theatrical productions.

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Personal Appearance Makeup Artist Salaries in Tennessee

BLS salary estimates for personal appearance makeup artists nationwide reveal the following:

Annual Salary
Mean
$27000
10th Percentile
$16940
25th Percentile
$18470
50th Percentile (Median)
$22470
75th Percentile
$26200
90th Percentile
$43270

Help wanted ads for makeup artists in the Memphis metropolitan area range from $19,000/year for bridal work to $35,000/year for production work. The aggregate average annual salary for makeup artist jobs in the Nashville metropolitan area is $35,000 – and this is without factoring in tips, which could add as much as 25% to a makeup artist’s take home pay.

Theatrical Makeup Artist Salaries in Tennessee

The BLS lists the following nationwide salaries for theatrical and production makeup artists. Nashville metropolitan area salaries are close to the national norm.

Annual Salary
Mean
$66330
10th Percentile
$19560
25th Percentile
$25840
50th Percentile (Median)
$47210
75th Percentile
$97350
90th Percentile
$121910

Going to Work as a Makeup Artist in Tennessee

Some schooling is always needed to become a makeup artist, and Tennessee has no shortage of beauty schools that include makeup programs. More detailed training is needed for theatrical makeup than for personal appearance makeup and finding work as an apprentice with an established artist is an excellent option if possible.

Personal appearance make-up artists in Tennessee work in salons, spas, resorts, cosmetics stores, bridal salons and advertising agencies. Others freelance as specialists in bridal or other special occasion makeup.

The following is a Bureau of Labor Statistics table of personal appearance makeup artist salaries for large cities and metropolitan areas in Tennessee.

Area name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin TN
30
Estimate not released