An acting career might be a good fit if you are an ENFP personality type or an enneagram type 7 (the Enthusiast). Do you love expressing yourself and interpreting others’ work? Do you have dreams on being on-screen, on stage or in the spotlight? This could be the career for you.
Not everyone makes it to Broadway or Hollywood, but an acting career comes in many forms such as actor, actress, comedian, comic, community theater actor, ensemble member, narrator, performer and voice-over artist
Actors at a Glance
What Actors Do
Actors express ideas and portray characters in theater, film, television, and other performing arts media.
Work Environment
Actors work in various settings, including production studios, theaters, and theme parks, or on location. Work assignments are usually short, ranging from 1 day to a few months.
How to Become an Actor
Many actors enhance their skills through formal dramatic education, and long-term training is common.
Pay
The median hourly wage for actors was $21.88 in May 2020. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.51, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $64.92.
Job Outlook
Employment of actors is projected to grow 3 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Growth in the number of Internet-only platforms may lead to work for actors.
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.
10 Facts About an Actor Career
1. Actors Do More Work Behind the Scenes Than You Think.
Actors do a lot of legwork before actually digging into their role. They:
- 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
2. Finding Steady Work as an Actor is a Struggle
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.
3. Despite the Challenges, Actors Held 70,100 jobs as of 2019.
Most actors, about 24% are self-employed, while 13% are part of a theater company or work at a dinner theater.
4. Acting is not the Only Job They Have
Because 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.
5. The Work Hours are Irregular and Long
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.
6. A Degree is Not Required But Most Actors Choose to Get Training
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.
7. You Need a to Have a Mind Like a Steal Trap.
Actors must interpret their characters’ feelings and motives in order to portray the characters in the most compelling way. This means being willing to think outside the box and find ways to connect with the character.
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. You have to be prepared and be willing to feel unprepared at the same time.
8. You Have to Have Physical and Emotional Endurance.
Actors may audition for many roles before getting a job. They must be able to accept rejection and keep going. Not everyone is mentally tough enough to be persistent in the pursuit of an acting career.
These professionals 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.
9. Acting is a Never-ending Learning Process
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.
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.
10. Don’t Expect to Get Rich as an Actor, Although a Few Do
The median hourly wage for actors was $21.88 in May 2020. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.51, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $64.92.
In May 2020, the median hourly wages for actors in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private | $22.73 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 20.60 |
| Theater companies and dinner theaters | 18.61 |
Related Occupations to Acting
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
Announcers |
Announcers present music, news, and sports and may provide commentary or interview guests. | See How to Become One | $39,790 |
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 | $59,810 |
Multimedia Artists and Animators |
Multimedia artists and animators create images that appear to move and visual effects for various forms of media and entertainment. | Bachelor’s degree | $75,270 |
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 create motion pictures, television shows, live theater, commercials, and other performing arts productions. | Bachelor’s degree | $74,420 |
For more information about actors, visit
National Endowment for the Arts
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Actors,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/actors.htm
