Actor salary in the U.S.
Actors in the U.S. earn a median of $29.05 an hour, based on BLS data for 55,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $16.50 for the lowest-paid 10% to $143.68 for the top 10%.
Pay range for actors in the U.S.
| Pay level | Hourly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $16.50 |
| 25th percentile | $20.34 |
| Median | $29.05 |
| 75th percentile | $97.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $143.68 |
| Average (mean) | $58.29 |
Half of actors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
BLS publishes only hourly pay for this job, because actors often work irregular hours or short engagements, so a yearly figure would be misleading. At $29.05 an hour, every 40-hour week pays $1,162.
Actor salary by state
| State | Median hourly | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $36.98 | 520 |
| Oregon | $29.81 | 470 |
| New York | $28.44 | 6,630 |
| Connecticut | $27.91 | 180 |
| Texas | $25.86 | 2,160 |
| Alabama | $24.71 | 150 |
| New Jersey | $24.29 | 470 |
| Mississippi | $23.71 | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $22.15 | 890 |
| Tennessee | $21.82 | 370 |
| Arizona | $21.16 | 380 |
| Georgia | $19.75 | 1,520 |
| Arkansas | $19.49 | 70 |
| Missouri | $19.20 | 450 |
| Florida | $19.11 | 6,400 |
| Minnesota | $18.95 | 520 |
| Kentucky | $18.85 | 90 |
| North Carolina | $18.83 | 730 |
| Illinois | $15.00 | 1,060 |
| Ohio | $13.51 | 170 |
| Nevada | $12.76 | 790 |
Best-paying metro areas for actors
| Metro area | Median hourly | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $65.27 | 570 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $55.29 | 24,800 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $37.10 | 340 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $31.90 | 30 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $31.19 | 280 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $28.97 | 210 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $28.81 | 5,430 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $28.53 | 150 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $25.86 | n/a |
| Birmingham, AL | $25.56 | n/a |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $25.52 | 150 |
| Cleveland, OH | $25.37 | 50 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $25.28 | 500 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $23.77 | 270 |
| Lancaster, PA | $23.65 | 140 |
Metro areas with the most actors
| Metro area | Workers | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 24,800 | $55.29 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,430 | $28.81 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 4,240 | $19.11 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 610 | $20.00 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 570 | $65.27 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 500 | $25.28 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 470 | $18.95 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 450 | $22.15 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 450 | $23.10 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 340 | $37.10 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 310 | $20.64 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 280 | $31.19 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 270 | $23.77 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 250 | $19.13 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 210 | $28.97 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Musicians and Singers | — | $47.80 |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | — | $18.82 |
| Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | $40,710 | — |
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | $66,710 | — |
| Music Directors and Composers | $73,710 | $35.44 |
| Dancer | — | $24.80 |
| Disc Jockeys, Except Radio | — | $21.61 |
| Choreographer | $55,310 | $26.59 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a actor make in the U.S.?
The median hourly wage for actors in the U.S. is $29.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $16.50 for the lowest-paid 10% to $143.68 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid actors make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of actors in the U.S. earn at least $143.68 an hour. The top 25% earn $97.95 or more.
What is the starting pay for actors in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $16.50 an hour, and a quarter of actors earn $20.34 or less.
How many actors work in the U.S.?
About 55,000 actors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.