What is an actor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
Tim Threlfall
introduction image

Becoming an actor has always gotten a bad rap. Everyone would love to become a famous actor, but not everyone wants to take the time to work on their skills through formal education and long-term training.

It's definitely a profession that you want to be working on a lot so you continue to grow. Actors find jobs in production studios, theaters and even theme parks. So if you don't mind attending audition after audition and a little bit of disappointment, then acting may just be the career for you.

What general advice would you give to an Actor?

T

Tim Threlfall

Head of MDT, Professor, Brigham Young University

I am guessing that live theatre will take a while to return to the incredible level it was at before the pandemic. The Broadway musical really is (was before March) in a ‘platinum era’ with more Americans than ever enjoying musicals with mega-hits such as WICKED, BOOK OF MORMON, and HAMILTON, in the last decade or so. Musical theatre stars are also becoming recognizable actors in a way they really have not been before.

Even though I think live theatre will take a while to return (the base audience demographic remains in the senior citizen category, and they (we…me!) may be a bit more hesitant to return to a packed performance, the majority of theatre practitioners will be more than eager to return, as soon as possible, and will help get the theatre back on its feet.
ScoreActorUS Average
Salary
4.2

Avg. Salary $53,376

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
4.1

Growth Rate 8%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.21%

Asian 6.47%

Black or African American 13.24%

Hispanic or Latino 16.48%

Unknown 6.62%

White 56.98%

Gender

female 32.45%

male 67.55%

Age - 36
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 36
Stress Level
4.1

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.8

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
5.3

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Actor career paths

Key steps to become an actor

  1. Explore actor education requirements

    Most common actor degrees

    Bachelor's

    61.1 %

    High School Diploma

    15.7 %

    Associate

    12.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific actor skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Makeup25.69%
    Improv8.47%
    Music Videos6.92%
    Costumes5.74%
    Drama5.37%
  3. Complete relevant actor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New actors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an actor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real actor resumes.
  4. Research actor duties and responsibilities

    • Act in productions and lead performing arts and drama workshops for local schools and organizations.
    • Have worked on numerous productions for Disney, CBS, ABC, NBC, TNT, HULU.
    • Appear in comedy shows and talk shows in Korean TV channel.
    • Work in sections, using teamwork, to frighten customers as well.
  5. Prepare your actor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your actor resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an actor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Actor Resume templates

    Build a professional Actor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Actor resume.
    Actor Resume
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    Actor Resume
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    Actor Resume
    Actor Resume
    Actor Resume
  6. Apply for actor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an actor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Actor Job

Zippi

Are you an Actor?

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Average actor salary

The average Actor salary in the United States is $53,376 per year or $26 per hour. Actor salaries range between $24,000 and $115,000 per year.

Average Actor Salary
$53,376 Yearly
$25.66 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do actors rate their job?

5/5

Based On 2 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Actor reviews

profile
5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2022
Pros

Being able to help out whenever needed and being around the team.

Cons

When they want me to do something not family friendly or not Christianly.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

being a whole new being and finding out more about you

Cons

complicated roles sometimes


profile
5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Giving people a movie/story to talk about, something that leaves people encouraged and feeling emotionally uplifted.

Cons

Being treated badly at work!


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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