Jobs Similar to Makeup Artists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to makeup artists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Floral Designers, Art Directors and Fashion Designers.
Makeup Artists: $97,150 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Makeup Artists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floral Designers | 73% | $37,360−62% | High school |
| 2 | Art Directors | 72% | $114,850+18% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Fashion Designers | 72% | $80,960−17% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | 71% | $39,390−59% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Choreographers | 71% | $55,310−43% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Interior Designers | 70% | $67,190−31% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Music Directors and Composers | 70% | $73,710−24% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Graphic Designers | 70% | $62,960−35% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Costume Attendants | 69% | $50,400−48% | High school |
| 10 | Models | 69% | $48,470−50% | High school |
| 11 | Set and Exhibit Designers | 66% | $75,240−23% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Producers and Directors | 66% | $90,360−7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Special Effects Artists and Animators | 66% | $102,030+5% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Talent Directors | 66% | $90,360Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | 66% | $55,490−43% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Photographers | 66% | $44,660−54% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Film and Video Editors | 65% | $75,420−22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Craft Artists | 63% | $46,080−53% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsSame group | 63% | $35,790−63% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Advertising and Promotions Managers | 62% | $133,660+38% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Floral Designers
73% similar · $37,360 (−62%) · High school
- 2Art Directors
72% similar · $114,850 (+18%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Fashion Designers
72% similar · $80,960 (−17%) · Training or associate
- 4Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
71% similar · $39,390 (−59%) · Training or associate
- 5Choreographers
71% similar · $55,310 (−43%) · Training or associate
- 6Interior Designers
70% similar · $67,190 (−31%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Music Directors and Composers
70% similar · $73,710 (−24%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Graphic Designers
70% similar · $62,960 (−35%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Costume Attendants
69% similar · $50,400 (−48%) · High school
- 10Models
69% similar · $48,470 (−50%) · High school
- 11Set and Exhibit Designers
66% similar · $75,240 (−23%) · Graduate degree
- 12Producers and Directors
66% similar · $90,360 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Special Effects Artists and Animators
66% similar · $102,030 (+5%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Talent Directors
66% similar · $90,360 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
66% similar · $55,490 (−43%) · Training or associate
- 16Photographers
66% similar · $44,660 (−54%) · Training or associate
- 17Film and Video Editors
65% similar · $75,420 (−22%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Craft Artists
63% similar · $46,080 (−53%) · Training or associate
- 19Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
63% similar · $35,790 (−63%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 20Advertising and Promotions Managers
62% similar · $133,660 (+38%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for makeup artists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where makeup artists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like makeup artists
What jobs are most similar to makeup artists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Floral Designers (73% similar), Art Directors (72% similar), Fashion Designers (72% similar), Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers (71% similar) and Choreographers (71% similar).
Which jobs like makeup artists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Advertising and Promotions Managers ($133,660, +38%; usually a bachelor's degree), Art Directors ($114,850, +18%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Special Effects Artists and Animators ($102,030, +5%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with makeup artists ($97,150).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.