Actor

Actor

Career Overview

Actors portray characters in television, movie, commercial, and theater productions.

Education

A high school diploma, or equivalent, is likely necessary to obtain these positions. A four-year bachelor's degree in theater or a related field might make one more employable. Any training in acting, singing, and dancing will also make an individual more valuable.

Future Outlook

Employment of actors is projected to grow 3 percent from 2019 to 2029, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The number of Internet-only platforms, such as streaming services, is likely to increase, along with the number of shows produced for these platforms. This growth may lead to more work for actors.

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.

Recommended High School Courses

  • Psychology
  • Dance
  • Art
  • Performing Arts
  • Communication
  • Foreign Languages
  • English

  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  • Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
  • Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
  • Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Memorization - The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Collaborate with others to prepare or perform artistic productions.
  • Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
  • Study scripts to determine project requirements.
  • Practice athletic or artistic skills.
  • Audition for roles.
  • Perform music for the public.
  • Collaborate with others to determine technical details of productions.
  • Promote products, activities, or organizations.
  • Write material for artistic or entertainment purposes.
  • Inform viewers, listeners, or audiences.
  • Construct distinctive physical objects for artistic, functional, or commercial purposes.

Schools

usa_school
Academy Of Art University
Arcadia University
Asbury University
Barry University
Baylor University
Belmont University
Bethany College- Lindsbor...
Bethel University (indian...
Biola University
Birmingham Southern Colle...
Bismarck State College
Bluefield College
Bob Jones University
Boston University
Bowdoin College
Bowling Green State Unive...
Brandeis University
Brenau University
Brescia University
Brigham Young University
Brown University
California Institute Of T...
Carnegie Mellon Universit...
Carroll College
Case Western Reserve Univ...
Central Methodist Univers...
Cerritos College
Claremont Mckenna College
Clark State Community Col...
Colgate University
College Of Charleston
College Of The Holy Cross
College Of Wooster
Colorado College
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia University - Ny...
Connecticut College
Cornell College
Culver-stockton College
Davidson College
Denison University
Depaul University
Depauw University
East Central University -...
Elon University
Emerson College
Everett Community College
Florida State University
Friends University
Gettysburg College
Goucher College
Grinnell College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Hampden-sydney College
Hampshire College
Hartwick College
Hendrix College
High Point University
Hillsborough Community Co...
Hillsborough Community Co...
Hillsdale College
Illinois State University
Julliard School
Juniata College
Kalamazoo College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
King University
Limestone University
Macalester College
Marlboro College
Maryland Institute Colleg...
Marymount Manhattan Colle...
Mcpherson College
Merrimack College
Middlebury College
Moravian College
Mount Holyoke College
Muhlenberg College
Navarro College- Corsican...
New College Of Florida
New York University
North Greenville Universi...
Northern Arizona Universi...
Northern Virginia Communi...
Oakland Community College
Oberlin College
Occidental College
Ohio State University- Li...
Our Lady Of The Lake Univ...
Pace University- Nyc Camp...
Pennsylvania State Univer...
Pikes Peak Community Coll...
Pratt Institute
Randolph-macon College
Regent University
Rider University
Roane State Community Col...
Rochester University
Rollins College
Rutgers University- New B...
Saint Mary's College - No...
Saint Mary's College Of C...
Saint Michael's College
Saint Olaf College
Salve Regina University
Sarah Lawrence College
Savannah College Of Art A...
Scripps College
Shorter University
Skidmore College
Southern Methodist Univer...
Southwestern Assemblies O...
Southwestern College- Mai...
Southwestern Oklahoma Sta...
Southwestern University
Spelman College
St. Bonaventure Universit...
St. Mary's College Of Mar...
Stephens College
Stevenson University
Stonehill College
Suffolk County Community...
Suny At Binghamton
Suny At Buffalo
Suny At Geneseo
Suny At Purchase
Suny Dutchess Community C...
Suny Genesee Community Co...
Suny Mohawk Valley Commun...
Suny Niagara County Commu...
Suny Plattsburgh
Suny Rockland Community C...
Suny Sullivan County Comm...
Suny Westchester Communit...
Susquehanna University
Swarthmore College
Sweet Briar College
Syracuse University
Taylor University
Texas A & M University- C...
The University Of The Sou...
Thomas Nelson Community C...
Transylvania University
Trevecca Nazarene Univers...
Trinity University- San A...
Union College- New York
University Of Alabama- Hu...
University Of Alabama- Tu...
University Of California-...
University Of California-...
University Of California-...
University Of California-...
University Of Hawaii- Hil...
University Of Idaho
University Of Mary Washin...
University Of Minnesota-...
University Of Nebraska- O...
University Of New Orleans
University Of North Carol...
University Of North Carol...
University Of North Carol...
University Of Oklahoma
University Of Oregon
University Of Puget Sound
University Of Redlands
University Of Richmond
University Of Saint Mary
University Of San Diego
University Of Sioux Falls
University Of Tennessee-...
University Of The Arts
University Of Wisconsin-...
University Of Wisconsin-...
Ursinus College
Utah Valley University
Virginia Wesleyan Univers...
Washington And Lee Univer...
Washington College
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
Westminster College- Penn...
Whitman College
Whittier College
Wilkes University
Willamette University
William Jewell College
William Woods University
Williams College
Wofford College
Yale University
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Ambrose University
Brock University
Canadore College- Comm...
Capilano University- M...
Humber College- Lakesh...
John Abbott College
Mount Allison Universi...
Niagara College- Wella...
Queen's University- Ki...
Red Deer College- Main...
Redeemer University Co...
Renison University Col...
Seneca College- Seneca...
Simon Fraser Universit...
St. Lawrence College-...
Toronto Film School
Trinity Western Univer...
University College Of...
University Of Alberta-...
University Of British...
University Of Calgary
University Of Guelph
University Of Manitoba
University Of Ottawa
University Of Quebec-...
University Of Regina
University Of Saskatch...
University Of Victoria
University Of Waterloo
York University- Keele...
Concordia University- L...
York University- Glendon...

Potential Scholarships

Ache Police Officers And...
Swayze Woodruff Memorial...
Army Rotc Green To Gold S...
Arrl Charles Clarke Cordl...
Collegecounts Scholarship...
Hagan Scholarship Foundat...
Jsu Alabama Faculty Women...
Jsu Alabama Governor Fran...
Jsu Alabama Hallman Schol...
Jsu Alabama Major John Pe...
Jsu Alabama Cole (leone)...
Aqha Region 1 Quarter Hor...
Aqha Arizona Quarter Hors...
Arizona Bpw Foundation Sc...
Miss Arizona Scholarship...
Arkansas Single Parent Sc...
Helen Laughlin Am Mode Me...
Cal Grant A And B Competi...
California Law Enforcemen...
Cancer For College Schola...
Greenhouse Scholars Schol...
Bruce Fishkin Scholarship...
Eileen Kraus Scholarship
Delaware Educational Bene...
Roothbert Fund Scholarshi...
Aqha Joan Cain Florida Qu...
5 Strong Scholarship
Georgia Tuition Equalizat...
Aqha Indiana Quarter Hors...
Ivy Tech Community Colleg...
Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...
Harvard University Schola...
John And Abigail Adams Sc...
Aqha Dr. Gerald O'connor...
Ave Maria University Mich...
Michigan Tuition Incentiv...
Minnesota Child Care Gran...
Cancer For College Henry...
Cancer For College Pacifi...
Aqha Christopher Lawrence...
Aqhf Nebraska Quarter Hor...

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:
Low End:
$19,040.00 /yr
Avg/Med:
$40,860.00 /yr
High End:
$120,820.00 /yr

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.