Actors

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.

Most important skills

Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Active Listening
Social Perceptiveness
Critical Thinking
Coordination
Time Management
Active Learning

Key knowledge

English Language
Fine Arts
Communications and Media
Psychology
Sociology and Anthropology
Sales and Marketing
Customer and Personal Service
Computers and Electronics

What the work involves

Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.
Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.
Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.
Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
Work with other crew members responsible for lighting, costumes, make-up, and props.

Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Artistic, Social, Enterprising.

Qualifications and licensing

Most common education: Less than a High School Diploma (65.7% of expert ratings)
Related experience: None (52.9%)
On-the-job training: None or short demonstration (51.5%)
Preparation level: O*NET job zone 2: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Licensing: Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.

Check before planning

Licensing for Actors is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.

Limits

Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0

Work environment

How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).

Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.

Rankings compare typical U.S. occupation-level work conditions; individual jobs and employers vary. Data: O*NET 31.0 Work Context and BLS wages (May 2025).
Condition	Level	Compared with other occupations	Most common answer (O*NET survey)
Contact with others	Moderate	Lower on contact with others than 56% of occupations compared	51% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others”
Dealing with the public	Low	Lower on dealing with the public than 76% of occupations compared	29% of surveyed respondents chose “Not important at all”
Teamwork	Moderate	Lower on teamwork than 52% of occupations compared	60% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important”
Freedom to make decisions	Very low	Lower on freedom to make decisions than 91% of occupations compared	40% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom”
Time pressure	High	Higher on time pressure than 66% of occupations compared	40% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day”
Conflict situations	Low	Lower on conflict situations than 60% of occupations compared	34% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week”
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people	Low	Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 72% of occupations compared	59% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Consequence of error	Very low	Lower on consequence of error than 89% of occupations compared	50% of surveyed respondents chose “Not serious at all”

Work-pressure profile

Time pressure: high
Conflict situations: low
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: low
Consequence of error: very low

Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.

Full answer distributions