Actors: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Actors play parts in stage, television, radio, video, motion picture 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.

Featured Schools

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Actors with little to no experience tend to make between $* and $* while the more experienced ones can earn over $* per year.

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as an Actor is to move to a higher paying state like -. Right now, the highest paying states for Actors are -, -, -, – and -.

However, a higher pay at – doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at – might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as an Actor is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.

We asked other Actors what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had less than a High School Diploma followed by a Bachelor’s Degree.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Here are some of the pros and cons of being an Actor.

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76% of Actors said they were satisfied with their job and 67% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.

Kevin Interdonato

It’s definitely not a ‘normal’ existence when compared to most jobs and lifestyles. Full-time actors are essentially, consistently unemployed. So when not on a film or tv set, it’s all about preparation and readiness. For me, it’s important to keep a mindset of knowing my next job will be around the corner (similar to a … Read More

Ria Patel

My name is Ria Patel, I am an Australian Indian Actress and Dancer, based in Los Angeles. Depending on what the call time is, let’s say 9 am, I will be on set before 9 am. They say if you’re early, you’re on time, if you’re on time, you’re late and if you’re late then … Read More

Stacy Harris

The acting bug first bit when I was cast as Rebecca Nurse in my high school’s production of The Crucible. Every acting job is different. Some cast only union members. Other calls are open. Sometimes, even though there are onset wardrobe options and stage makeup artists, we may be instructed to bring as many as … Read More

Rio Rocket

Being an actor offers me the freedom to portray characters in roles that live in ways and do things I would normally not be able to in my own life. The freedom of expression, the ability to collaborate to create art and the opportunity to meet some of the most interesting people in the world … Read More

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.