How much do makeup artists usually make?

Question

do they really make as low as $9 or at least $12 or more an hour? (for example at a cosmetic counter at Sears or M.A.C. or shoppers drug mart). do they get paid more than estheticians?

Answer 1

Just to clarify, MAC does not hire just professional artists.

I've know girls that have no training what so ever and are just plucked out the store.  If you go in with your make up done and they like what they see, you might get lucky.... but you don't necessarily have to have experience.  And they don't train you either.

Answer 2

See- if you work in a store setting- your not really a makeup artist- you are trained by the store in ways of applying makeup and selling it. I've worked for macy's makeup counter and start at 8.50 an hour. If you actually go to school for it- it really depends on where you live... A city in California or New York- You'd make wayyy more money there than you would working in lets say North Dakota ...... M.A.C and Sephora hire professional makeup artists and i've heard they start you out at over 10 an hour in some places.