Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
Machines can already do 15% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 43%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 15% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2038, and 43% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 2,340 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $97,150 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 84% for contact with people.
- Also called: Commercial Makeup Artist (Commercial MUA), Hair and Makeup Designer, Makeup Artist (MUA), Prosthetic Makeup Designer.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apply makeup to enhance or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies | 32% | 3% to 30% | |
| Alter or maintain makeup during productions as necessary to compensate for lighting changes or to achieve continuity of effect | 11% | 3% to 30% | |
| Clean supplies such as makeup brushes | 7% | 10% to 40% | |
| Confer with stage or motion picture officials and performers to determine desired effects | 5% | 30% to 54% | |
| Select desired makeup shades from stock, or mix oil, grease, and coloring to achieve specific color effects | 5% | 20% to 60% | |
| Duplicate work precisely to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis | 4% | 3% to 30% | |
| Requisition or acquire needed materials for special effects, including wigs, beards, and special cosmetics | 4% | 50% to 85% | |
| Study production information, such as character descriptions, period settings, and situations, to determine makeup requirements | 4% | 55% to 85% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills makeup artists, theatrical and performance use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Actors39% of tasks by 2035
- Dancers33% of tasks by 2035
- Musicians and Singers42% of tasks by 2035
- Athletes and Sports Competitors33% of tasks by 2035 · US median $66,710
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2038. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of makeup artists, theatrical and performance?
Machines can do 15% of the tasks of makeup artists, theatrical and performance today and 43% 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 39-5091.00 (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). Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/makeup-artists-theatrical-and-performance/