Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Some college, no degree
None
Long-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Actors portray characters and stories for audiences across different types of productions. With 57,000 people employed nationally, this field offers opportunities for those who enjoy creative expression and performance. The role draws heavily on creativity and innovation, speaking and listening, and strong interpersonal abilities. Physical strength and stamina can also be important, reflecting the demands of repeated performances and long days. Actors benefit from being adaptable, detail oriented, and comfortable using computers and information technology as part of modern production processes. Writing and reading skills support understanding scripts and developing performances, while customer service skills help in interacting with audiences and colleagues. Leadership skills may be useful when taking initiative in collaborative settings. For people considering related paths, similar occupations include tour and travel guides, telemarketers, dancers, childcare workers, and musicians and singers. Overall, this career can appeal to individuals who want to blend artistic talent with communication and collaboration in a performance-focused environment.
Specific salary figures for actors are not supplied, so earnings cannot be quantified here. However, the available information still allows some interpretation of income potential from a skills and career-management perspective. Success in this field may depend on effectively using creativity and innovation, communication, and interpersonal strengths to secure roles and build a sustainable career over time. Skills such as adaptability, detail orientation, and leadership can support long-term professional development, which may influence earning potential as experience grows. Comfort with computers and information technology may also play a role in accessing opportunities and managing work in modern production environments. Because no national median annual salary is provided, job seekers should be prepared for variability in earnings and may want to think strategically about developing a broad skill set, exploring related occupations, and staying flexible in the types of roles they pursue.
Actors have national employment of 57,000 and a projected employment growth rate of 0.3%. This indicates that the number of jobs in this occupation is expected to change only slightly over the projection period. With 6,000 annual openings, there will be ongoing opportunities for new entrants and for those moving between roles. Annual openings can come from a combination of job changes, people leaving the occupation, and any incremental growth in positions. The modest projected growth rate suggests that competition for roles may be a factor, increasing the importance of the top skills associated with this career. Creativity, speaking and listening, and interpersonal skills are central to standing out in auditions and collaborative projects. Adaptability and customer service skills can help actors navigate a range of work settings. Overall, the outlook reflects a relatively stable field with consistent but limited new opportunities each year.
The strongest states and metro areas for actors are not specified, and no particular locations are highlighted by name. As a result, there is no evidence of clear geographic concentrations or specific regions with notably higher opportunity scores. Without identified top states or metro areas, it is reasonable to view opportunities for actors as potentially distributed across many different locations, depending on local demand. Job seekers may need to balance personal preferences about where to live with the need to search broadly for roles. Since no geographic rankings or detailed comparisons are provided, there is no basis for stating that any city, state, or region offers better pay, more jobs, or stronger growth. Instead, location decisions may be guided by individual circumstances, willingness to relocate, and interest in exploring related occupations such as tour and travel guides, telemarketers, dancers, childcare workers, or musicians and singers, which might have different patterns of local demand.
The typical education level for actors is some college, no degree. This suggests that many people in this field may pursue postsecondary training or coursework without necessarily completing a full degree program. Time in college can provide opportunities to strengthen core skills that are especially important for this occupation. Creativity and innovation, speaking and listening, and interpersonal skills form the foundation of effective performance. Physical strength and stamina can be supported through appropriate practice and training. Writing and reading skills help actors interpret scripts and directions, while being detail oriented supports consistent, accurate performances. Adaptability and leadership skills can be developed through collaborative projects and group work. Comfort with computers and information technology is also valuable in modern production and communication environments. Overall, people preparing for this career can benefit from educational experiences that emphasize communication, collaboration, and creative practice, even if they do not complete a formal degree.
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