How Much Salary Do You Get Being an Actress?
Actresses usually work independently as entertainers. They audition for jobs or roles in plays, radio and television commercials, and movies. Those in films and movies may primarily work in certain genres, such as horror, suspense, action, drama or comedy. Actresses usually read scripts after getting roles, studying their characters and memorizing lines. They usually rehearse their roles before performing them. Most professional actresses study drama in college or learn their craft at acting schools. They are paid either by the hour or by a fixed sum for the role they play.
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Average Wages and Benefits
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Actresses earned average wages of $28.44 an hour as of a May 2010 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS. That hourly average amounted to $59,155 a year based on 40-hour work weeks, although most actresses work irregular hours. Actresses' wages are often based on experience, the type of roles they play and the geographical areas of their employment. Wages may also be based on the size and budgets of the theater or film companies. Actresses may receive benefits as members of various unions, such as the Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild. Minimum salary requirements, free meals and lodging may be among the benefits.
Salary by State
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Actresses' wages may vary considerably by state. Those in California and New York may earn more, because these states are prime markets for movies and television shows. For example, actresses earned their highest hourly rates in California at $39.94, according to the BLS report. That projects to an annual salary of $83,074 a year, based on 40-hour work weeks. Actresses earned their second-highest wages, $26.95 an hour or $56,056 annually, in New York. They also earned relatively high wages in Nevada and Michigan, at $26.68 and $25.00 an hour, or $55,494 and $52,000 a year.
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Wages by Non-Metropolitan Region
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Actresses typically earn significantly lower salaries in more rural or non-metropolitan areas. For example, they earned only $16.08 an hour in the southwest Missouri area, the BLS reported. Southwest Missouri ranked second-lowest in wages paid among all non-metropolitan areas. This hourly wage equated to an annual salary of $33,446, which fell well below the national average of $59,155. Actresses made even less in eastern Tennessee, at $14.77 an hour or $30,722 a year.
Employment Outlook
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Jobs for directors, producers and actors were expected to increase 11 percent in the decade from 2008 to 2018, according to BLS data. This rate of growth was about average compared to other careers or professions. Much of the expected job growth was attributed to an increasing number of satellite channels and independent film companies. Interactive media, the Internet and portable electronic devices also provide more job opportunities for actresses, especially those working in commercial advertising.
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References
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