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arts-media

Entertainers & Performers

Entertainers and performers bring creative expression and athletic excellence to audiences through various media and live venues. These professionals work in television, film, radio, theater, sports arenas, music venues, and digital platforms, using their talents to inform, educate, and entertain diverse audiences. They collaborate with directors, producers, and other creative professionals to deliver compelling performances and competitive sports entertainment.

Median Annual Pay
$71,458
Range: $22,950 - $174,540
Training Time
4-5 years
AI Resilience
🟑AI-Augmented
Education
Bachelor's degree

🎬Career Video

πŸ€–AI Resilience Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 4/6: growing job demand means AI will assist but humans remain essential

🟑AI-Augmented

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
Medium+1

30% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Growing+2

+6% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate+1

EPOCH score: 18/25

Total Score4/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

πŸ“‹Key Responsibilities

  • β€’Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
  • β€’Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
  • β€’Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
  • β€’Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.
  • β€’Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
  • β€’Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.
  • β€’Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.
  • β€’Sing or dance during dramatic or comedic performances.

πŸ’‘Inside This Career

Entertainment and performance professionals spend their days bringing creative visions to life, whether they're rehearsing scenes in a studio, choreographing routines in a dance hall, or strategizing program lineups in a conference room. Their work rhythms shift dramatically based on project phasesβ€”some days involve intensive preparation and planning, while others center on live performance or production. A typical day might include reviewing scripts or scores, collaborating with creative teams, practicing techniques, or managing the technical aspects of a show. Many professionals juggle multiple projects simultaneously, transitioning from a morning meeting about an upcoming production to an afternoon rehearsal for a current performance.

The collaborative nature of entertainment work means these professionals regularly interact with diverse teams of artists, technical staff, and business partners. Directors coordinate with actors and crew members on set, while musicians work closely with sound engineers and venue managers. Sports professionals train with coaches, teammates, and medical staff, then perform before live audiences or cameras. Programming directors analyze audience data with marketing teams and negotiate with content creators. Much of their time involves problem-solving in real-timeβ€”adapting to equipment failures, adjusting to weather conditions, or responding to audience reactions.

Work environments vary considerably within a single career, from intimate recording studios to massive stadiums, from television sets to streaming platform offices. These professionals often work irregular schedules, with early morning call times, evening performances, or weekend competitions being common. Success requires balancing artistic creativity with practical constraints like budgets, deadlines, and audience expectations, making each day a dynamic blend of imagination and execution.

πŸ“ˆCareer Progression

What does this mean?

This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.

1
Entry (10th %ile)
0-2 years experience
$22,950
$20,655 - $25,245
2
Early Career (25th %ile)
2-6 years experience
$42,353
$38,118 - $46,588
3
Mid-Career (Median)
5-15 years experience
$71,458
$64,312 - $78,604
4
Experienced (75th %ile)
10-20 years experience
$122,999
$110,699 - $135,299
5
Expert (90th %ile)
15-30 years experience
$174,540
$157,086 - $191,994

πŸ“šEducation & Training

Requirements

  • β€’Entry Education: Bachelor's degree
  • β€’Experience: Several years
  • β€’On-the-job Training: Several years
  • !License or certification required

Time & Cost

Education Duration
4-5 years (typically 4)
Estimated Education Cost
$41,796 - $156,060
Public (in-state):$41,796
Public (out-of-state):$86,508
Private nonprofit:$156,060
Source: college board (2024)
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πŸ’»Technology Skills

Video conferencing (self-tape submissions)Social media platformsScheduling appsMicrosoft OfficeVideo editing softwareProduction management toolsBudgeting softwareScheduling softwareCollaboration platformsAdobe AcrobatAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe PhotoshopApple Final Cut ProApplicant tracking softwareAvid Technology iNEWS

⭐Key Abilities

β€’Oral Expression
β€’Oral Comprehension
β€’Written Comprehension
β€’Memorization
β€’Speech Clarity
β€’Originality
β€’Near Vision
β€’Problem Sensitivity
β€’Fluency of Ideas
β€’Selective Attention

🏷️Also Known As

Entertainers & PerformersActorActor UnderstudyActressBackground ActorCharacter ArtistCharacter PerformerComedianComicCommunity Theater Actor+20 more

πŸ“‘Specializations

This career includes 14 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.

πŸ”—Related Careers

Other careers in arts-media

πŸ”—Data Sources

Last updated: 2026-01-09

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