Stand-Up Comic
I write things down, share them with people and if I make them laugh, I get paid. I also pretend I am other people in front of a camera.
CAREER
Actors
Overview
Hourly Median (2020)
$22
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+3.1% (slower than the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Some college, no degree
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Actors Do
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.
Other Job Titles Actors May Have
Actor, Actress, Comedian, Comic, Community Theater Actor, Ensemble Member, Narrator, Performer, Tour Actor, Voice-Over Artist
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
I am usually working on new material or preparing for a show or performance.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- 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.
- Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Actors
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Bachelor's degree (48%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Bachelor's degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Stand-Up Comic
Life experience, personal adventure, and exploration are equal in importance to formal education.
Learn to embrace the unknown.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
High School Students
Teaching artist/motivational speaker ,
If there's no theatre program in your school, think about ANYTHING you'd like to say out loud or ask a teacher to help you find monologues. Memorize, practice, practice some more. Volunteer to perform in front of your English class or any class a teacher allows. Feel what it's like to be nervous, embarrassed or laughed at, or TO MAKE MISTAKES IN PUBLIC- these things NEVER go away. You'll just get better at dealing with it all. If you love your work, it'll still be hard, but you won't notice.
College Students
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
