Plan B

Plan B

Actor

What Actors Do;

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.

Work Environment for an Actor;

Actors held about 57,000 jobs in 2024. Actors work in various settings, including production studios, theaters, and theme parks, or on location. Travel may be required for some workers. 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, such as those in touring companies, may be employed for several years.

How to Become an Actor;

A formal education isn’t always required, but actors typically enhance their skills by taking classes in the performing arts. They also develop their skills through years of practice. Although some people succeed in acting without getting a formal education, most actors acquire some formal preparation, such as through an acting conservatory or a college drama or theater arts program. Students can take classes in areas such as acting, movement, characterization, voice, and audition techniques to prepare for a career as an actor.

How Much Actors Get Payed;

The median hourly wage for actors was $23.33 in May 2024. 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 $14.00, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $97.19.

Actor Job Outlook;

Employment of actors is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034. Despite limited employment growth, about 6,300 openings for actors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers.

Similar Occupations;

Interesting Fact;

Acting is a blend of intense psychology, strict technical skill, and surprising superstition. The first recorded actor was Thespis in 534 B.C., and "breaking a leg" is a traditional good luck wish designed to reverse bad luck.