Actors: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of actors about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for actors to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of actors expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for actors.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Actors?
Do actors need a degree? What kind of experience do actors typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for actors to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Actors
Jobs Postings for Actors By Education
- No Education Listed: 638 (60%)
- Bachelor's degree: 228 (21%)
- High School or GED: 183 (17%)
- Master's degree: 16 (1%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 5 (0%)
No education was listed by most employers of actors. According to job data, no education was required for 60% of positions. In 21% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 17% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Actors
Jobs Postings for Actors By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 240 (58%)
- 2-3 Years: 114 (27%)
- 4-6 Years: 49 (12%)
- 7-9 Years: 4 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 9 (2%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for actors. In 58% of job postings for Actors, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 27% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 12% of job postings for actors.
What Kind of Degree Do Actors Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for actors, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 12 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective actors, and in 2023 a total of 75,259 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective actors.
Top Degree Programs for Actors
Top 5 Degree Programs for Actors (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric. | 33,262 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Journalism. | 10,005 |
| Radio and Television. | 6,486 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | 4,139 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric. | 33,262 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Journalism. | 10,005 |
| Radio and Television. | 6,486 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | 4,139 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | 2,831 |
| Organizational Communication, General. | 1,835 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other. | 1,470 |
| Journalism, Other. | 1,186 |
| Sports Communication. | 1,161 |
| Broadcast Journalism. | 848 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Other. | 816 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Actors
Learn to craft clear and effective messages while adding new media communication methods to your professional toolkit.
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- Months To Complete: 14
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What Skills Do Actors Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by actors to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for actors, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Actors
Based on 1,051 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Actors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Broadcasting | 198 | 19% |
| Social Media | 154 | 15% |
| Podcasting | 130 | 12% |
| Journalism | 105 | 10% |
| Adobe Audition | 90 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Actors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 303 | 29% |
| Detail Oriented | 224 | 21% |
| Writing | 189 | 18% |
| Public Speaking | 157 | 15% |
| Editing | 142 | 14% |
Based on 1,051 job postings related to actors, broadcasting was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 19% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for social media, podcasting, journalism, adobe audition and marketing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for actors, followed by detail oriented, writing, public speaking, editing and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Broadcasting | 198 | 19% |
| Social Media | 154 | 15% |
| Podcasting | 130 | 12% |
| Journalism | 105 | 10% |
| Adobe Audition | 90 | 9% |
| Marketing | 68 | 6% |
| Content Creation | 66 | 6% |
| Transferable Skills Analysis | 58 | 6% |
| Audio Editing Software | 47 | 4% |
| Digital Audio | 45 | 4% |
| Automation | 43 | 4% |
| Audio Production | 41 | 4% |
| Live Event Support | 41 | 4% |
| Public Service Announcement | 41 | 4% |
| Talk Shows | 40 | 4% |
| Audio Editing | 39 | 4% |
| Production Equipment | 39 | 4% |
| Statistics | 34 | 3% |
| Audio Boards | 33 | 3% |
| Pronunciation | 33 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 303 | 29% |
| Detail Oriented | 224 | 21% |
| Writing | 189 | 18% |
| Public Speaking | 157 | 15% |
| Editing | 142 | 14% |
| Operations | 127 | 12% |
| Management | 124 | 12% |
| Research | 115 | 11% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 108 | 10% |
| Multitasking | 92 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 84 | 8% |
| Sales | 79 | 8% |
| Organizational Skills | 63 | 6% |
| Prioritization | 59 | 6% |
| Problem Solving | 56 | 5% |
| Professionalism | 56 | 5% |
| Time Management | 56 | 5% |
| Microsoft Office | 55 | 5% |
| Planning | 55 | 5% |
| Innovation | 51 | 5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about actors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for actors.
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.