Actors Salary in the United States
The BLS does not publish a median annual wage estimate for this occupation in the May 2025 release. Available figures are shown below.
- Median annual wage
- —
- Mean annual wage
- —
- Median hourly wage
- $29.05
- Employment
- 55,000
55,000 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | — | $16.50 |
| 25th percentile | — | $20.34 |
| Median (50th) | — | $29.05 |
| 75th percentile | — | $97.95 |
| 90th percentile | — | $143.68 |
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Work with other crew members responsible for lighting, costumes, make-up, and props.
- Promote productions using means such as interviews about plays or movies.
- Perform original and stock tricks of illusion to entertain and mystify audiences, occasionally including audience members as participants.
- Dress in comical clown costumes and makeup, and perform comedy routines to entertain audiences.
- Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
- Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Some college, no degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 2.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.9% |
| Some college, no degree | 17.2% |
| Associate's degree | 6.2% |
| Bachelor's degree | 48.7% |
| Master's degree | 13.0% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 2.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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- Audio and Video Technicians$58,100
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.