Costume Attendants
Machines can already do 18% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 51%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Costume Attendants in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 18% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2035, and 51% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 6,510 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $50,400 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 75% for contact with people.
- Also called: Costume Draper, Costume Seamstress, Costumer, Draper.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean and press costumes before and after performances and perform any minor repairs | 19% | 20% to 60% | |
| Provide dressing assistance to cast members or assign cast dressers to assist specific cast members with costume changes | 17% | 3% to 30% | |
| Arrange costumes in order of use to facilitate quick-change procedures for performances | 9% | 20% to 60% | |
| Design or construct costumes or send them to tailors for construction, major repairs, or alterations | 5% | 3% to 30% | |
| Examine costume fit on cast members and sketch or write notes for alterations | 5% | 3% to 30% | |
| Distribute costumes or related equipment and keep records of item status | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Create worksheets for dressing lists, show notes, or costume checks | 4% | 70% to 95% | |
| Collaborate with production designers, costume designers, or other production staff to discuss and execute costume design details | 4% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills costume attendants use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance43% of tasks by 2035 · US median $97,150
- Dancers33% of tasks by 2035
- Circus and Variety Performers47% of tasks by 2035
- Upholsterers40% of tasks by 2035 · US median $46,340
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Costume Attendants?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2035. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of costume attendants?
Machines can do 18% of the tasks of costume attendants today and 51% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 39-3092.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Costume Attendants: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/costume-attendants/