What Percentage of Actors Make a Living Acting?
(By Tonya Tannenbaum)
Acting is often seen as a glamorous career, but the reality for most actors is far from the red carpets and blockbuster paychecks. While some actors achieve fame and financial success, the vast majority struggle to make ends meet. So, what percentage of actors actually make a living solely from acting? The answer reveals the competitive and unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry.
The Hard Truth: Few Actors Earn a Stable Income
Various studies and surveys provide insight into the earnings of actors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of recent years, the median hourly wage for actors is around $23.48. However, this figure includes both part-time and full-time actors, making it difficult to determine how many earn a sustainable annual income.
A 2019 study by the Actors’ Equity Association, which represents stage actors, revealed that only 14% of its members earned $15,000 or more per year from acting. Similarly, in Hollywood, just 2% of actors are estimated to make a full-time living from their craft, meaning they can rely solely on acting without supplementing their income with other jobs.
The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) also reports that the majority of its 160,000+ members do not make enough from acting to qualify for the union’s health insurance, which requires actors to earn at least $26,470 annually from acting jobs. This indicates that most actors earn far less than a sustainable income.
Breaking Down the Numbers
To understand the financial realities of actors, let’s break it down into categories:
1. The Top 1% – A-List Actors
At the highest level, A-list actors like Dwayne Johnson, Margot Robbie, and Leonardo DiCaprio earn millions per film. These actors negotiate lucrative contracts, receive backend deals, and earn additional income through endorsements and production deals. According to Forbes, the top-earning actor in 2023, Tom Cruise, made $100 million from “Top Gun: Maverick” alone. However, this level of success is rare and represents only a small fraction of actors.
2. The Working Actors – The 2%
Some actors, while not household names, consistently work in film, television, or theater and make a stable income. These actors may appear in supporting roles, commercials, voice-over work, and independent films. Examples include actors like David Harbour (before his breakout role in Stranger Things) and Bryan Cranston, who worked in small roles for decades before Breaking Bad made him a star.
3. The Part-Time Actors – The 10-15%
A small percentage of actors earn some income from acting but must supplement their earnings with other jobs. This group includes actors who work in commercials, minor TV roles, or regional theater. Many of them work as bartenders, waiters, or personal trainers to support their acting careers. A well-known example is Jon Hamm, who worked as a waiter while pursuing acting before landing Mad Men.
4. The Aspiring Actors – The 85%
The vast majority of actors earn very little from acting and struggle to book consistent work. Many of them rely on unpaid theater roles, student films, or background acting. Even getting a single paid role per year can be a challenge. According to a report by the Actors’ Equity Association, many actors make less than $5,000 annually from acting.
Why Is It So Hard to Make a Living as an Actor?
Several factors contribute to the difficulty of earning a living solely from acting:
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High Competition:
Tens of thousands of actors audition for a limited number of roles. For every acting job, hundreds or even thousands of actors may compete. -
Unstable Work:
Acting jobs are usually short-term. Even actors who book a role in a TV series may be unemployed once the season wraps. This inconsistency makes it hard to maintain financial stability. -
Low Pay for Small Roles:
While leading roles in movies pay well, most actors get smaller roles that don’t pay much. Background actors may earn around $200 per day, and theater actors can earn as little as $500 per week. -
Reliance on Side Jobs:
Many actors work in restaurants, retail, teaching, or freelancing to make ends meet. For example, Tiffany Haddish lived in her car before making it big, and Brad Pitt worked as a limousine driver and wore a chicken suit for a fast-food restaurant before getting his first acting break. -
Union Membership Doesn’t Guarantee Income:
Even being a member of SAG-AFTRA or Actors’ Equity doesn’t guarantee regular work. While unions help secure fair wages, actors must still land jobs to benefit from those protections.
How Some Actors Make a Living
Despite these challenges, some actors manage to make a steady income without becoming A-list celebrities. Here’s how:
1. Commercial Acting
Actors who land recurring commercial roles can earn steady pay. Stephanie Courtney, best known as “Flo” from Progressive commercials, reportedly earns over $1 million per year for her work.
2. Voice Acting
Voice actors can make a great living in animation, video games, and dubbing. Tara Strong, a well-known voice actress, has voiced characters in The Powerpuff Girls, Teen Titans, and Rugrats.
3. Theater Acting
Broadway actors can earn a stable income if they land consistent roles. The base salary for a Broadway performer is around $2,000 per week, but actors must continue booking shows to sustain their careers.
4. TV and Film Residuals
Some actors earn steady income from residuals (royalties) when shows or films they’ve worked on are re-aired. For example, cast members of “Friends” earn around $20 million per year from reruns, while lesser-known actors may earn small residual checks from past work.
5. Teaching and Coaching
Many actors teach acting classes, coach aspiring performers, or even direct theater productions to supplement their income.
The reality is that only about 2% of actors can make a full-time living from acting alone, while many more struggle with inconsistent work and low pay. Acting is a highly competitive and financially unstable career, requiring persistence, side jobs, and often years of unpaid or low-paying work before achieving success.
However, for those who love the craft, the journey can be rewarding. Some actors spend years in obscurity before landing their big break, while others carve out steady careers in theater, commercials, or voice acting. While the odds are tough, those who remain dedicated and adaptable may eventually turn their passion into a sustainable career.
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