Education:
45%
Less than a High School Diploma
21%
Bachelor's Degree
Actor
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Job Outlook:
As fast as average
Education:
None
Salary
High:
Not Available
Average:
Not Available
Hourly
Average:
$36.06
What they do:
Play parts in stage, television, radio, video, or film productions, or other settings for entertainment, information, or instruction. Interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience. May dance and sing.
On the job, you would:
- Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
- Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
- Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
Important Qualities
Creativity. Actors interpret their characters’ feelings and motives in order to portray the characters in the most compelling way.
Memorization skills. Actors memorize many lines before filming begins or a show opens. Television actors often appear on camera with little time to memorize scripts, and scripts frequently may be revised or even written just moments before filming.
Persistence. Actors may audition for many roles before getting a job. They must be able to accept rejection and keep going.
Physical stamina. Actors should be in good enough physical condition to endure the heat from stage or studio lights and the weight of heavy costumes or makeup. They may work many hours, including acting in more than one performance a day, and they must do so without getting overly tired.
Reading skills. Actors must read scripts and be able to interpret how a writer has developed their character.
Speaking skills. Actors—particularly stage actors—must say their lines clearly, project their voice, and pronounce words so that audiences understand them.
In addition to these qualities, actors usually must be physically coordinated to perform predetermined, sometimes complex movements with other actors, such as dancing or stage fighting, in order to complete a scene.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
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100% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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96% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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95% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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95% | Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. | |
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95% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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95% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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93% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. | |
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91% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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88% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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79% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
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76% | Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. | |
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76% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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73% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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73% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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68% | Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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95% | Artistic - Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art. | |
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61% | Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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83% | Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. | |
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78% | Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
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61% | Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. | |
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61% | Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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78% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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75% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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72% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. | |
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72% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |
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72% | Memorization - The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures. | |
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69% | Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem. | |
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66% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Study scripts to determine project requirements.
Practice athletic or artistic skills.
Collaborate with others to prepare or perform artistic productions.
Study scripts to determine project requirements.
Collaborate with others to prepare or perform artistic productions.
Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
Audition for roles.
Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
Collaborate with others to determine technical details of productions.
Perform music for the public.
Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
Promote products, activities, or organizations.
Write material for artistic or entertainment purposes.
Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
Inform viewers, listeners, or audiences.
Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
Construct distinctive physical objects for artistic, functional, or commercial purposes.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
100% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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95% | Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? | |
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93% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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92% | Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job? | |
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90% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
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89% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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89% | Public Speaking - How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job? | |
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85% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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81% | Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures? | |
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79% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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71% | Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing? | |
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67% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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66% | Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? | |
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66% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
89% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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85% | Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. | |
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79% | Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. | |
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75% | Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. | |
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74% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
What Actors Do
Actors must memorize and rehearse their lines.
Actors express ideas and portray characters in theater, film, television, and other performing arts media. They interpret a writer’s script to entertain or inform an audience.
Duties
Actors typically do the following:
- Read scripts and meet with agents and other professionals before accepting a role
- Audition in front of directors, producers, and casting directors
- Research their character’s personal traits and circumstances to portray the characters more authentically to an audience
- Memorize their lines
- Rehearse their lines and performance, including on stage or in front of the camera, with other actors
- Discuss their role with the director, producer, and other actors to improve the overall performance of the show
- Perform the role, following the director’s directions
Most actors struggle to find steady work, and few achieve recognition as stars. Some work as “extras”—actors who have no lines to deliver but are included in scenes to give a more realistic setting. Some actors do voiceover or narration work for animated features, audiobooks, or other electronic media.
In some stage or film productions, actors sing, dance, or play a musical instrument. For some roles, an actor must learn a new skill, such as horseback riding or stage fighting.
Most actors have long periods of unemployment between roles and often hold other jobs in order to make a living. Some actors teach acting classes as a second job.
Work Environment
Actors held about 78,100 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of actors were as follows:
| Self-employed workers | 26% |
| Motion picture and video industries | 25 |
| Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services | 22 |
| Amusement parks and arcades | 8 |
| Theater companies and dinner theaters | 6 |
Work assignments are usually short, ranging from 1 day to a few months, and actors often hold another job in order to make a living. They are frequently under the stress of having to find their next job. Some actors in touring companies may be employed for several years.
Actors may perform in unpleasant conditions, such as outdoors in bad weather, under hot stage lights, or while wearing an uncomfortable costume or makeup.
Work Schedules
Work hours for actors are extensive and irregular. Early morning, evening, weekend, and holiday work is common. Some actors work part time. Few actors work full time, and many have variable schedules. Those who work in theater may travel with a touring show across the country. Film and television actors may also travel to work on location.
Getting Started
How to Become an Actor
Actors may audition for many roles before getting a job.
Actors typically enhance their skills through formal education, and long-term training is common.
Education
Actors typically enhance their skills through formal education. Those who specialize in theater may have a bachelor’s degree in a field such as performing arts, but a degree is not required.
Although some people succeed in acting without getting a formal education, most actors acquire some formal preparation through a theater company’s acting conservatory or a university drama or theater arts program. Students can take college classes in drama or filmmaking to prepare for a career as an actor. Classes in dance or music may help as well.
Actors who do not have a college degree may take acting or film classes to learn their craft. Community colleges, acting conservatories, and private film schools typically offer these classes. Many theater companies also have education programs.
Training
It takes many years of practice to develop the skills needed to be a successful actor, and actors never truly finish training. They work to improve their acting skills throughout their career. Many actors continue to train through workshops, rehearsals, or mentoring by a drama coach.
Every role is different, and an actor may need to learn something new for each one. For example, a role may require learning how to sing or dance, or an actor may have to learn to speak with an accent or to play a musical instrument or sport.
Many aspiring actors begin by participating in school plays or local theater productions. In television and film, actors usually start out in smaller roles or independent movies and work their way up to bigger productions.
Advancement
As an actor’s reputation grows, he or she may work on bigger projects or in more prestigious venues. Some actors become producers and directors.
Job Outlook
Employment of actors is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 9,300 openings for actors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Streaming services and other online-only platforms are expected to drive employment demand for actors as the number of shows produced and the volume of content increase.
However, lack of funding may reduce the number of performances held at theaters, which would impact employment of actors in these establishments. Theaters with more stable sources of funding and well-known plays and musicals may be less susceptible to fluctuations in employment demand.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about actors, visit
National Endowment for the Arts
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of actors.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Announcers and DJs |
Announcers present news and sports or may interview guests on media such as radio and television. Disc jockeys (DJs) act as masters of ceremonies (emcees) or play recorded music at weddings, parties, or clubs. |
See How to Become One | The annual wage is not available. |
|
Dancers and Choreographers |
Dancers and choreographers use dance performances to express ideas and stories. |
See How to Become One | The annual wage is not available. |
|
Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators |
Film and video editors and camera operators manipulate moving images that entertain or inform an audience. |
Bachelor's degree | $62,420 |
|
Special Effects Artists and Animators |
Special effects artists and animators create images that appear to move and visual effects for various forms of media and entertainment. |
Bachelor's degree | $98,950 |
|
Musicians and Singers |
Musicians and singers play instruments or sing for live audiences and in recording studios. |
No formal educational credential | The annual wage is not available. |
|
Producers and Directors |
Producers and directors make business and creative decisions about film, television, stage, and other productions. |
Bachelor's degree | $85,320 |