Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Food service, cleaning, and personal care / 39-5091.00

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.

US jobs
2,340
Median wage
$97,150 a year
Job family
Food service, cleaning, and personal care

Can agents do the work of makeup artists, theatrical and performance?

We read the evidence for the whole job family, Food service, cleaning, and personal care: Not yet (first measured in the last 12 months)

Direct benchmarks exist, but agents complete less than 20% of their tasks.

Evidence: BEHAVIOR Challenge 2025, 12.4% of tasks fully completed (Full task success rate).

0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.

  • 35%Apply hygienic or cosmetic agents to skin or hairNot measured
  • 20%Study details of artistic productionsNot measured
  • 8%Communicate with others about specifications or project detailsNot measured
  • 7%Create artistic designs or performancesNot measured
  • 6%Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areasNot measured
  • 5%Evaluate patient or client condition or treatment optionsNot measured
  • 5%Manage budgets or financesNot measured
  • 5%Prepare reports of operational or procedural activitiesNot measured

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in food service, cleaning, and personal care, not always this occupation's tasks.

Direct evidence

Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.

Also relevant

These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Clean supplies such as makeup brushes.
  • Duplicate work precisely to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis.
  • Apply makeup to enhance or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies.
  • Analyze a script, noting events that affect each character's appearance, so that plans can be made for each scene.
  • Alter or maintain makeup during productions as necessary to compensate for lighting changes or to achieve continuity of effect.
  • Confer with stage or motion picture officials and performers to determine desired effects.
  • Requisition or acquire needed materials for special effects, including wigs, beards, and special cosmetics.
  • Study production information, such as character descriptions, period settings, and situations, to determine makeup requirements.
  • Establish budgets, and work within budgetary limits.
  • Select desired makeup shades from stock, or mix oil, grease, and coloring to achieve specific color effects.
  • Write makeup sheets and take photos to document specific looks and the products used to achieve the looks.
  • Assess performers' skin type to ensure that makeup will not cause break-outs or skin irritations.
Other job titles for this occupation (19)

Commercial Makeup Artist (Commercial MUA) · Hair and Makeup Designer · Makeup Artist (MUA) · Prosthetic Makeup Designer · Special Effects Makeup Artist (Special Effects MUA) · Special Makeup Effects Artist · TV and Film Makeup Artist (Television and Film Makeup Artist) · Beauty Advisor · Beauty Specialist · Beauty Stylist · Beauty Therapist · Body Make-Up Artist (Body MUA) · Certified Technician (Certified Tech) · Character Artist · Eyelash Technician (Eyelash Tech) · Hair and Makeup Artist · Lash Artist (Eyelash Artist) · Makeup Technician (Makeup Tech) · Makeup Worker