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.
Actors
SOC: 27-2011 O*NET: 27-2011.00
Median Salary
N/A
per year
Job Growth
📉 0.3%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
6.3
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
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.
What does a Actors do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$0
10th percentile
Early Career
$0
25th percentile
Median
$0
50th percentile
Experienced
$0
75th percentile
Top Earners
$0
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$0
25th
$0
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$0
Mean: $0
75th
$0
90th
$0
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $0 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $0 and $0
- •Salary spread is 0.0% around the median, showing low variation
- •Total national employment: 38,800 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:57,000
Top Industries
Information23.1%
Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries22.9%
Motion Picture and Video Industries22.5%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+0.3%
Annual Openings:6,300
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)57,000
Current
2034 (Projected)57,100
+0.3%
+200
Employment Change
+0.3%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: More slowly than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Actors professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 33 locations
California
6,640 jobs$01.46x
New York
6,460 jobs$02.69x
Florida
6,420 jobs$02.60x
Illinois
3,200 jobs$02.10x
Georgia
1,910 jobs$01.57x
Texas
1,230 jobs$00.35x
Virginia
1,130 jobs$01.11x
Pennsylvania
1,050 jobs$00.69x
Missouri
940 jobs$01.28x
North Carolina
850 jobs$00.69x
Louisiana
740 jobs$01.53x
Utah
740 jobs$01.72x
New Jersey
660 jobs$00.62x
Indiana
540 jobs$00.67x
Tennessee
530 jobs$00.64x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
Standard growth expectations for this occupation
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Speaking
100%
#2
Reading Comprehension
90%
#3
Active Listening
80%
#4
Social Perceptiveness
70%
#5
Critical Thinking
60%
#6
Monitoring
50%
#7
Time Management
40%
Skills Overview
Speaking
advanced5.0
100%
Reading Comprehension
advanced4.5
90%
Active Listening
intermediate4.0
80%
Social Perceptiveness
intermediate3.5
70%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.0
60%
Monitoring
basic2.5
50%
Time Management
basic2.0
40%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Speaking
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Reading Comprehension
advancedImportance90%
abilities
4.5/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
intermediateImportance70%
skills
3.5/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance60%
abilities
3.0/5.0
Monitoring
basicImportance50%
skills
2.5/5.0
Time Management
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Butchers and Meat Cutters88%
5 shared skills
Postal Service Clerks88%
5 shared skills
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks86%
5 shared skills
File Clerks78%
5 shared skills
Parking Enforcement Workers78%
5 shared skills
Bailiffs75%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
Learn on the Job:
- →Monitoring
- →Critical Thinking
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Reading Comprehension
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Speaking
- ★Active Listening
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Social Perceptiveness
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Actors
Technology Intensity
High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires advanced digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechLinux
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechZoom
🔥 Hot TechTikTok
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Linux
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Zoom
TikTok
Facebook
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
CONSTANT TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy constant team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
18
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Management & Supervision (2)Planning & Development (1)Communication & Coordination (2)Operations & Execution (6)General Responsibilities (5)Training & Development (1)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)
1
Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision100% perform100%
2
Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision97% perform98%
3
Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development94% perform96%
4
Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Communication & Coordination91% perform94%
5
Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution88% perform92%
6
Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Training & Development82% perform88%
8
Work with other crew members responsible for lighting, costumes, make-up, and props.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Sing or dance during dramatic or comedic performances.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Operations & Execution76% perform84%
10
Read from scripts or books to narrate action or to inform or entertain audiences, utilizing few or no stage props.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on management & supervision activities
- •39% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Actors
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Actors professionals typically have a ASE Holland code and highly value relationships
AArtistic
SSocial
EEnterprising
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Actors
Cooperation
CriticalCooperation
Importance Level5.00
Persistence
CriticalPersistence
Importance Level4.84
Initiative
CriticalInitiative
Importance Level4.81
Social Orientation
CriticalSocial Orientation
Importance Level4.79
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.78
Adaptability/Flexibility
CriticalAdaptability/Flexibility
Importance Level4.78
Complete Work Styles Profile
Cooperation
5.0
Persistence
4.8
Initiative
4.8
Social Orientation
4.8
Dependability
4.8
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.8
Achievement/Effort
4.7
Stress Tolerance
4.6
Self-Control
4.5
Concern for Others
4.2
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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