Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 53'950 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 52'920 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 50'000 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 58'000 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 57'083 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 63'125 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsBeauty & Sports
Maskenbildner/in
Transform actors into any character you desire.
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Maskenbildner/in transform actors into new characters for stage and film using makeup, masks, and wigs.
You shape faces and bodies for theatre, film, and television. With professional makeup, silicone masks, and elaborate wigs, you turn performers into elderly characters, fantasy creatures, or historical figures. Your precise handwork, solid knowledge of anatomy, and creative vision bring every production to life visually and authentically. You also coordinate workflows and work closely with directors and costume designers.
FieldBeauty & Sports
Education pathSpecialisation / Professional Function
IndustryEvent Technology, Stagecraft & Film
Swissdoc 0.825.1.0
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Makeup Artist. Based on 42 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
-2% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 57'600 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 53'650 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 56'550 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 56'541 |
Top paying industries
View as table
| Industry | Salary | Obs. |
|---|---|---|
| Consulting various | CHF 57'083 | 5 |
| Consumer / Luxury goods industry | CHF 56'875 | 6 |
| Service sector in general | CHF 54'727 | 7 |
| Retail trade / Wholesaling | CHF 52'000 | 11 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Schweiz: Schuldiplome; Deutschland: staatl. anerkannter Titel "Maskenbildner/in" oder "Bachelor of Arts"
- ⏱ 3 Jahre, Vollzeit
Official education path
You learn this profession through private training programs or state-recognized foreign qualifications, which usually take 3 years full-time.
Typical training path
Schweiz: Schuldiplome; Deutschland: staatl. anerkannter Titel "Maskenbildner/in" oder "Bachelor of Arts"
Prerequisites
- For internships at theatre/film/television: completed vocational basic training, e.g. as Coiffeur/-euse EFZ, Kosmetiker/in EFZ, or higher vocational qualification, e.g. as Visagist/in (BP)
- For positions at larger theatres: completed internship or state-recognized exam in Germany
- For private offers: usually no specific prior education required
Requirements
- Sense for colours and shapes
- Creativity
- Skilled hands
- Good health (no chronic back problems, no allergies or respiratory or skin diseases, no colour vision defects)
- Willingness to work irregular hours
- Patience and endurance
- Enjoyment of working with people
- High interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills
- Foreign language skills are an advantage
Where this can lead
A career change is possible through completed basic training in cosmetics or hairdressing. You then look for an internship at a theatre or film studio, though places are very limited.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Creative intuition
- Fine motor precision
- Team communication
- Resilience
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand before the stage and shape the next role with silicone and brushes. During filming, you touch up the makeup and adjust wigs to match the lighting.
- You design sketches and makeup concepts for theatre or film productions.
- You shape and model three-dimensional masks from silicone, latex, or plaster.
- You apply makeup and style hair for historical or fantasy roles.
- You create realistic wounds, scars, or dummy bodies for special effects.
- You coordinate workflows and store professional makeup and wig supplies.
- You support performers during rehearsals, filming, and shows.
- You carefully clean and maintain masks, wigs, and tools.
Working conditions
You work in theatres, film studios, television productions, or on mobile sets. Sometimes you change workplaces daily and set up spaces for photo projects or events.
Where to learn
- MaskenWerkstatt Wartenberg Aus- und Weiterbildungsstätte für MaskenbildnereiMetzgergasse 12, 9320 Arbon
- ssfv syndicat suisse film et video Josefstr. 106Postfach 2210, 8031 Zürich
Strengths
- Creative intuition
- Fine motor precision
- Team communication
- Resilience
Trade-offs
- Irregular hours
- Physical strain
- Few permanent positions
- Time pressure
06 · Similar
