Prevailing Wage for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
Prevailing wage for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance (SOC 39-5091) is set by the DOL using regional wage surveys and applies to every H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorship. Whether your offer covers a Hair and Makeup Designer role in Los Angeles or a Special Effects Makeup Artist position in New York, DOL sets four experience levels and the floor shifts meaningfully by city.
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Entry-level theatrical makeup artists with limited professional experience, typically working under direct supervision on straightforward assignments. Candidates fresh from cosmetology or makeup programs with no substantial production credits generally fall here.
Qualified makeup artists with demonstrated production experience who work with moderate supervision. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance, covering professionals handling standard theatrical, commercial, or broadcast assignments independently.
Experienced makeup artists who take on complex assignments such as prosthetic design or period-accurate looks with minimal supervision. These professionals typically have a strong portfolio across multiple production types and may mentor junior artists.
Fully competent senior makeup artists or department heads with broad expertise across prosthetics, special effects, and theatrical design. These professionals set departmental standards, lead production crews, and operate with full autonomy on major productions.
Prevailing Wage for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
Watch for title aliasing in entertainment filings
Employers sometimes file LCAs under broad cosmetology or hairstylist SOC codes rather than SOC 39-5091, which carries different prevailing wage floors. Confirm your offer letter and LCA both reference Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance to avoid a compliance mismatch.
Factor Atlanta and New York wage gaps into negotiations
Atlanta and New York post the highest prevailing wage floors for this occupation by a wide margin, while Orlando registers substantially lower floors even at Level 4. If your worksite city is listed on the LCA, that city's floor governs, not a national average.
Understand why per-project pay structures create compliance risk
Theatrical makeup artists often receive project-based or day-rate compensation. For sponsored positions, DOL requires the annualized equivalent to clear the prevailing wage floor, so episodic or seasonal pay structures must be converted to a full-year wage figure before comparing.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors for this occupation
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified H-1B and E-3 sponsorship history and lets you filter by role and location. You can see which production companies and studios have actually sponsored Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance before, narrowing your search to proven sponsors.
Jobs for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 39-5091.00 alongside Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Commercial Makeup Artist (Commercial MUA) Prevailing Wage
Commercial Makeup Artist (Commercial MUA) Prevailing Wage
Commercial Makeup Artist (Commercial MUA) positions fall under SOC 39-5091.00 (Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Hair and Makeup Designer Prevailing Wage
Hair and Makeup Designer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hair and Makeup Designer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-5091.00 (Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Makeup Artist (MUA) Prevailing Wage
Makeup Artist (MUA) Prevailing Wage
Makeup Artist (MUA) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-5091.00 (Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Prosthetic Makeup Designer Prevailing Wage
Prosthetic Makeup Designer Prevailing Wage
Prosthetic Makeup Designer positions fall under SOC 39-5091.00 (Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Special Effects Makeup Artist (Special Effects MUA) Prevailing Wage
Special Effects Makeup Artist (Special Effects MUA) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Special Effects Makeup Artist (Special Effects MUA) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 39-5091.00 (Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Special Makeup Effects Artist Prevailing Wage
Special Makeup Effects Artist Prevailing Wage
Special Makeup Effects Artist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 39-5091.00 (Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
TV and Film Makeup Artist (Television and Film Makeup Artist) Prevailing Wage
TV and Film Makeup Artist (Television and Film Makeup Artist) Prevailing Wage
TV and Film Makeup Artist (Television and Film Makeup Artist) positions fall under SOC 39-5091.00 (Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the DOL set the prevailing wage for Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 39-5091, the agency assigns four wage levels based on experience and complexity, then publishes those figures through the OFLC Wage Search tool. Employers sponsoring foreign workers must offer at least the level that matches the position's actual duties.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
Level 1 covers entry-level artists working under supervision; Level 2 covers qualified professionals handling independent assignments, and is the most common filing level for this occupation; Level 3 covers experienced artists managing complex or specialty work; Level 4 covers department heads and senior lead artists. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision described in the job offer, not just the title, since USCIS and DOL review whether the level accurately reflects the role.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same makeup artist role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so areas with dense entertainment and production industries, like New York or Los Angeles, register higher market wages than smaller metros. The worksite address on the LCA determines which area wage applies, regardless of where the employer is headquartered. OFLC requires the wage to reflect the actual location where work is performed, not a more favorable city.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify the LCA if the offered wage is below the applicable prevailing wage floor. If filed anyway and later audited, DOL can require back wages, bar the employer from future sponsorships, and USCIS can deny or revoke the petition. Candidates should compare the offered salary against the OFLC Wage Search figure for their worksite city and wage level before the LCA is submitted.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website, entering SOC code 39-5091 and the metropolitan area where the job is located. Select the wage level that matches the position's duties. You can also review O*NET for occupation details that help confirm the correct SOC code applies to your offer. Migrate Mate can show you which employers have sponsored this occupation historically, helping you target companies with active sponsorship programs before you negotiate.
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