Statistics for Careers & Jobs in Acting

Acting Careers Statistics

Actors, producers and directors held about 139,000 jobs in 2002.
Most of these jobs were in the motion picture and video, performing arts, and broadcast industries. Unemployment is high at any given point.
The National Association of Schools of Theater is the accrediting body for drama programs; the Association accredits 128 schools.
Employment for actors, directors, and producers is projected to grow about as fast as average through 2012.
The two things any actor (or any person, really) needs to be successful are: TALENT and AMBITION. Only the actors that are the most persistent will find regular employment.
The average salary of performing arts companies' employees was $29,590 in 2002. The average salary in the motion picture and video industries was $17,610.
Salaried actors earned an average of $23,470 in 2002. The top 10% earned five times as much.

Actors that are members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) or the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and land a speaking part must be paid a minimum of $678/day or $2,352/5-day week.