Implants pigment into the skin to create long-lasting brows, eyeliner, and lip color, and sometimes camouflages scars or recreates areolas. BLS does not publish separate figures for skincare specialists; it counts them within skincare specialist (SOC 39-5094), whose median pay is $45,330 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 39-5094
- Personal Care and Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Permanent Makeup Artist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $45,330a year, or $21.79/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $30KTop 10% $82K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +8.8%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+8.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +8.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 14,200104,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025104.2K
- Projected 2035113.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 104.2K Projected 2035 113.3K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school39.2%
- Certificate30.2%
- Some college8.8%
- Master's19.2%
- Post-doctoral training2.7%
Highest education held by skincare specialists Segment Value High school 39.2% Certificate 30.2% Some college 8.8% Master's 19.2% Post-doctoral training 2.7%
Also advertised as: Permanent Cosmetic Professional, Microblading Artist, Cosmetic Tattoo Artist, Paramedical Tattoo Artist, Brow Artist.
Pay
How much do Skincare Specialists make?
Every permanent makeup artist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$45,330
Middle half earn $36,040 to $59,700
- 10th
- $29,580
- 25th
- $36,040
- 75th
- $59,700
- 90th
- $82,050
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $29,580 |
| 25th | $36,040 |
| Median | $45,330 |
| 75th | $59,700 |
| 90th | $82,050 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $45,330
- Median hourly wage
- $21.79/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $51,850
- People employed
- 72,890
Versus all US occupations
At $45,330, Skincare Specialists earn 11% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $5,650 a year.
Versus personal care and service occupations
Inside the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120, this is 19% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $82,050 or more while the bottom 10% earn $29,580, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 12% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Washington pays the most at $79,320, and still leads at $74,122 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Skincare Specialists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $79,320 | $74,122 | 2,200 |
| 2District of Columbia | $77,480 | $70,500 | 200 |
| 3Wyoming | $62,400 | $67,320 | 100 |
| 4Montana | $58,500 | $61,810 | 280 |
| 5Nebraska | $58,420 | $64,837 | 550 |
| 6North Dakota | $58,160 | $65,378 | 190 |
| 7Maine | $55,850 | $57,548 | 260 |
| 8Colorado | $54,500 | $52,886 | 1,510 |
| 9Oregon | $52,110 | $50,416 | 1,070 |
| 10Delaware | $50,820 | $50,918 | 130 |
Job outlook
Is Permanent Makeup Artist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +8.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Skincare Specialists | +8.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Skincare Specialists to change 8.8% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.5× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 9,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 14,200 openings are projected each year, 13.6% of the 104,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Permanent Makeup Artist
Requirements vary widely by state. Some states license permanent makeup under tattoo or body art laws, some under cosmetology or esthetics, and many require bloodborne pathogens training and a health department permit. Most artists complete hands-on training with an experienced trainer.
The Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (SPCP) offers the Certified Permanent Cosmetic Professional (CPCP) credential, which requires documented fundamental training, a current bloodborne pathogens certificate, and passing an exam on infection control, pigments, anatomy, and client management. Many artists start in esthetics or brow services before adding permanent makeup.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as skincare specialists.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)39.2%
- Post-Secondary Certificate30.2%
- Master's Degree19.2%
- Some College Courses8.8%
- Post-Doctoral Training2.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 39.2% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 30.2% |
| Master's Degree | 19.2% |
| Some College Courses | 8.8% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 2.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Permanent Makeup Artist do?
A permanent makeup artist uses tattooing techniques to place pigment in the skin for cosmetic results. Common services include microblading and powder brows, eyeliner, and lip blush. Each appointment starts with a consultation, health screening, and measuring and drawing the shape before any pigment goes in.
Artists choose pigments to suit each client's skin tone, numb the area, work carefully with hand tools or machines, and schedule touch-ups. Paramedical specialists help clients after surgery or illness, such as recreating areolas after breast reconstruction or camouflaging scars. Strict infection control and record-keeping are part of every procedure.
Day-to-day tasks
- Consult with clients and screen health history
- Measure and draw brow, eyeliner, or lip shapes for approval
- Select pigments to suit skin tone and undertone
- Implant pigment using hand tools or machines
- Follow strict infection control and sterilization procedures
- Schedule and perform touch-up sessions
- Perform paramedical work such as areola restoration or scar camouflage
- Keep client records and consent forms
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Permanent makeup artists work in studios, medical spas, salons, and some medical offices. Appointments are long and require steady hands and close focus, often seated over a client. Many are self-employed and manage their own bookings and marketing, with evening and weekend hours to suit clients.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking3.8
- Active Listening3.5
- Monitoring3.3
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Learning3.0
- Writing2.9
- Learning Strategies2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Active Listening | 3.5 |
| Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.6
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Instructing2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Persuasion2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.6 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Persuasion | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Permanent Makeup Artist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ARS) built on O*NET's Skincare Specialist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Permanent Makeup Artist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Realistic5.5
- Social4.4
- Artistic3.9
- Conventional3.4
- Enterprising3.1
- Investigative2.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Permanent Makeup Artist
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Personal Care and Service
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More personal care and service careers
Median annual pay, with skincare specialists highlighted
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,160
- Permanent Makeup Artist$45,330
- Concierge$38,950
- Tour Guide and Escort$38,120
- Hairstylist$35,790
- Manicurist and Pedicurist$35,760
- Nanny$34,980
- Childcare Worker$34,980
- Gambling Dealer$34,320
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $47,160 |
| Permanent Makeup Artist | $45,330 |
| Concierge | $38,950 |
| Tour Guide and Escort | $38,120 |
| Hairstylist | $35,790 |
| Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 |
| Nanny | $34,980 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Permanent Makeup Artist appears on
Questions
Permanent Makeup Artist: frequently asked questions
How much do Skincare Specialists make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for skincare specialists. It counts them within skincare specialist, whose median pay is $45,330 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $36,040 and $59,700, and the top 10% earn $82,050 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Permanent Makeup Artist?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Skincare Specialists. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 39.2% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Permanent Makeup Artist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 8.8% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 14,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Permanent Makeup Artist do?
A permanent makeup artist uses tattooing techniques to place pigment in the skin for cosmetic results. A typical task: consult with clients and screen health history. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Presentation software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Skincare Specialists the most?
The highest state medians for Skincare Specialists are Washington ($79,320), District of Columbia ($77,480), Wyoming ($62,400) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Permanent Makeup Artist?
O*NET scores Skincare Specialists highest on the Realistic, Social and Artistic interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFJ, ESFJ, ISFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.