Actors

Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

BLS doesn't publish national wage data for this occupation (typically because it's too small to estimate reliably).

Job outlook: +0.3% projected growth, 2024–2034 — slower than average.

About 6,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Some college, no degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

SpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessCritical ThinkingMonitoringTime ManagementWritingCoordinationComplex Problem Solving

Top knowledge areas

Fine ArtsEnglish LanguageCommunications and MediaSociology and AnthropologyPsychologyCustomer and Personal ServiceSales and MarketingEducation and Training

Core tasks

• 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.

• Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.

• Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.

• Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.

• Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.

• Sing or dance during dramatic or comedic performances.

Frequently asked questions

What's the job outlook for Actors?

Employment for Actors is projected to change +0.3% from 2024 to 2034 - slower than average.

What education is typically required for Actors?

Typical entry-level education: Some college, no degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Actors?

About 6,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.