Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
2,340 people do this job in the US. $97,150 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 54%
- 3%
- 44%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 11%. Today's estimate: 16%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 22 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design rubber or plastic prostheses that can be used to change performers' appearances.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 21% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 1 work week | 2%Half by Apr 2028 | |
| Analyze a script, noting events that affect each character's appearance, so that plans can be made for each scene.Done daily by most who do it. | 13% | 3.3 h50 min to 1.3 work days | 25%Half by Mar 2027 | |
| Attach prostheses to performers and apply makeup to create special features or effects, such as scars, aging, or illness.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 8% | 2.1 h38 min to 4.2 h | Stays with people | |
| Apply makeup to enhance or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 7% | 50 min25 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Write makeup sheets and take photos to document specific looks and the products used to achieve the looks.Done daily by most who do it. | 6% | 1.1 h25 min to 1.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Create character drawings or models, based upon independent research, to augment period production files.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 5% | 3.3 h1.7 h to 1 work day | 43%Half by Oct 2026 | |
| Clean supplies such as makeup brushes.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 5% | 25 min13 min to 50 min | Stays with people | |
| Establish budgets, and work within budgetary limits.Done daily by most who do it. | 5% | 3.3 h50 min to 6.7 h | 32%Half by Jan 2027 | |
| Select desired makeup shades from stock, or mix oil, grease, and coloring to achieve specific color effects.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 4% | 25 min8 min to 1.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Alter or maintain makeup during productions as necessary to compensate for lighting changes or to achieve continuity of effect.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 4% | 25 min8 min to 50 min | Stays with people | |
| Duplicate work precisely to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 50 min25 min to 1.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Evaluate environmental characteristics, such as venue size and lighting plans, to determine makeup requirements.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 50 min17 min to 1.7 h | 96%Half by now |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists3% now, 3% by 2028
- Skincare Specialists21% now, 21% by 2028
- Costume Attendants11% now, 14% by 2028
- Manicurists and Pedicurists12% now, 12% by 2028
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers0% now, 0% by 2028
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators8% now, 40% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).