Actor

Explore This Path

Bring stories to life and captivate audiences with your performance skills.
Impact society by portraying diverse characters and sharing compelling narratives.
Experience the thrill of live performances and the magic of film and TV sets.

💰 Earn $33K-$76K

📚 Some College

⏱️ 6–12 MONTH TRAINING

📈 4.5% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll 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.

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.

Scoop

Minimum Education

Some College

Career Prospects

Good (Increasing by 1-5%)

Training Time

6 months to 1 year

Job Openings

8,600 Annually

Median Earnings

$45,094 in California

$76,000 Nationally

$25K

$50K

$75K

$100K

$125K

$150K

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$250K

Real Talk Reel

Want to see what it's like to be a Actor? We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life.

@giannivpaolo

@orianasiphanoum

@badgalsavvv

@itswilsonlamont

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Being creative or artistic
Influencing or leading others

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Coordination
Instructing
Monitoring
Speaking

You value 🙏

Accomplishing things
Having freedom
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Actor

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years