Ranked list · 19 careers
19 Beauty Industry Jobs, Ranked by Fit and Pay (2026)
Makeup Artist, Theatrical and Performance tops this list at $97,150 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +6.1% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 19 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
- Careers on this list
- 19From 1,731 in the bank
- Median pay on the list
- $45,330BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Projected to grow
- 16 of 19BLS EP, 2025–2035
- Openings a year
- 1,235,700Combined, BLS EP
Method
How we built this list
Careers in hair, skin, makeup and cosmetics, from licensed cosmetologists and estheticians to makeup artists and the chemists who formulate products. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
- Careers in hair, skin, makeup and cosmetics, from licensed cosmetologists and estheticians to makeup artists and the chemists who formulate products. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
- Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
- The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.
The list
The top 19 beauty jobs
100% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.
- 1
1. Makeup Artist, Theatrical and Performance
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $97,150median a year
- Growth
- +6.1%
- Openings / yr
- 600
- Education
- Certificate
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
- 2
2. Perfumer
Specialty within chemist
- Median pay
- $91,240median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +6.4%
- Openings / yr
- 5,900
- Education
- Bachelor's
Creates fragrances for perfumes, personal care, and household products by blending natural and synthetic raw materials into formulas.
- 3
3. Fragrance Evaluator
Specialty within market research analyst and marketing specialist
- Median pay
- $78,760median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +7.0%
- Openings / yr
- 82,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Connects perfumers and brands, guiding fragrance projects by smelling, selecting, and refining submissions to match a client's brief and market.
- 4
4. Spa Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $69,770median a year
- Growth
- +6.2%
- Openings / yr
- 2,000
- Education
- High school
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of a spa facility.
- 5
5. Permanent Makeup Artist
Specialty within skincare specialist
- Median pay
- $45,330median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +8.8%
- Openings / yr
- 14,200
- Education
- Certificate
Implants pigment into the skin to create long-lasting brows, eyeliner, and lip color, and sometimes camouflages scars or recreates areolas.
- 6
6. Skincare Specialist
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $45,330median a year
- Growth
- +8.8%
- Openings / yr
- 14,200
- Education
- Certificate
Provide skincare treatments to face and body to enhance an individual's appearance.
- 7
7. Barber
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $38,210median a year
- Growth
- +3.3%
- Openings / yr
- 6,900
- Education
- Certificate
Provide barbering services, such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, and styling hair; trimming beards; or giving shaves.
- 8
8. Bridal Makeup Artist
Specialty within hairstylist
- Median pay
- $35,790median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +7.7%
- Openings / yr
- 73,400
- Education
- Certificate
Does makeup, and often hair, for brides and wedding parties on location, designing looks that last through the day and photograph well.
- 9
9. Hair Colorist
Specialty within hairstylist
- Median pay
- $35,790median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +7.7%
- Openings / yr
- 73,400
- Education
- Certificate
Specializes in coloring hair, from highlights and balayage to corrective color, using chemistry and an artist's eye.
- 10
10. Hairstylist
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $35,790median a year
- Growth
- +7.7%
- Openings / yr
- 73,400
- Education
- Certificate
Provide beauty services, such as cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp.
- 11
11. Wig Maker
Specialty within hairstylist
- Median pay
- $35,790median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +7.7%
- Openings / yr
- 73,400
- Education
- Certificate
Builds and styles custom wigs and hairpieces by hand for theater, film, and clients with medical hair loss.
- 12
12. Manicurist and Pedicurist
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $35,760median a year
- Growth
- +9.2%
- Openings / yr
- 21,900
- Education
- Certificate
Clean and shape customers' fingernails and toenails.
- 13
13. Shampooer
Personal Care and Service
- Median pay
- $32,600median a year
- Growth
- +5.6%
- Openings / yr
- 2,200
- Education
- No formal credential
Shampoo and rinse customers' hair.
- 14
14. Aesthetic Nurse
Specialty within registered nurse
- Median pay
- $97,550median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.6%
- Openings / yr
- 180,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
A registered nurse who performs cosmetic treatments such as injectables, laser procedures, and skin care in medical aesthetics practices.
- 15
15. Cosmetic Chemist
Specialty within chemist
- Median pay
- $91,240median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +6.4%
- Openings / yr
- 5,900
- Education
- Bachelor's
Formulates and tests skin care, hair care and makeup products, balancing performance, safety, stability and feel.
- 16
16. Luxury Brand Manager
Specialty within market research analyst and marketing specialist
- Median pay
- $78,760median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +7.0%
- Openings / yr
- 82,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
Manages the image, products, and marketing of a luxury fashion, beauty, jewelry, or hospitality brand to protect its prestige and grow sales.
- 17
17. Tattoo Artist
Specialty within fine artist, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
- Median pay
- $55,490median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −2.9%
- Openings / yr
- 2,200
- Education
- High school
Designs and applies permanent tattoos for clients, working under health regulations in licensed studios.
- 18
18. Model
Sales and Related
- Median pay
- $48,470median a year
- Growth
- −2.1%
- Openings / yr
- 700
- Education
- No formal credential
Model garments or other apparel and accessories for prospective buyers at fashion shows, private showings, or retail establishments.
- 19
19. Personal Stylist
Specialty within retail salesperson
- Median pay
- $35,410median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- −0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 520,600
- Education
- No formal credential
Helps individual clients dress well by assessing their wardrobe, shopping for them, and building outfits that suit their body, budget, and lifestyle.
Questions
Beauty Jobs: FAQ
What is the top career on the beauty jobs list?
Makeup Artist, Theatrical and Performance leads the list with a median wage of $97,150 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +6.1% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is certificate.
How was this list put together?
Careers in hair, skin, makeup and cosmetics, from licensed cosmetologists and estheticians to makeup artists and the chemists who formulate products. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Careers in hair, skin, makeup and cosmetics, from licensed cosmetologists and estheticians to makeup artists and the chemists who formulate products. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.
How much do beauty jobs pay?
Across the 19 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $45,330 a year, from $32,600 at the bottom to $97,550 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
14 of the 19 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035).