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Actor vs background actor

The differences between actors and background actors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an actor has an average salary of $53,376, which is higher than the $52,647 average annual salary of a background actor.

The top three skills for an actor include makeup, improv and music videos. The most important skills for a background actor are production assistants, CSI, and tv show.

Actor vs background actor overview

ActorBackground Actor
Yearly salary$53,376$52,647
Hourly rate$25.66$25.31
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs218302
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age3838
Years of experience--

Actor vs background actor salary

Actors and background actors have different pay scales, as shown below.

ActorBackground Actor
Average salary$53,376$52,647
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $115,000Between $24,000 And $112,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between actor and background actor education

There are a few differences between an actor and a background actor in terms of educational background:

ActorBackground Actor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorTheatreCommunication
Most common college--

Actor vs background actor demographics

Here are the differences between actors' and background actors' demographics:

ActorBackground Actor
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 67.5% Female, 32.5%Male, 60.9% Female, 39.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 13.1% Unknown, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 6.4% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage19%19%

Differences between actor and background actor duties and responsibilities

Actor example responsibilities.

  • Act in productions and lead performing arts and drama workshops for local schools and organizations.
  • Have worked on numerous productions for Disney, CBS, ABC, NBC, TNT, HULU.
  • Appear in comedy shows and talk shows in Korean TV channel.
  • Work in sections, using teamwork, to frighten customers as well.
  • Act and modele on photo and film sets in NYC and Orlando.
  • Appear in several TV shows as well as commercials as SAG-AFTRA performer.
  • Show more

Background actor example responsibilities.

  • Act in productions and lead performing arts and drama workshops for local schools and organizations.
  • Work with other crewmembers responsible for lighting, costumes, makeup, and props.
  • Self-Start as an actor and performer in various comedy, drama and horror films and television shows.
  • Content include radio, television and Internetadvertisements, video games and documentaries.
  • Model Ferragamo, Armani, Versace.

Actor vs background actor skills

Common actor skills
  • Makeup, 26%
  • Improv, 8%
  • Music Videos, 7%
  • Costumes, 6%
  • Drama, 5%
  • Teamwork, 5%
Common background actor skills
  • Production Assistants, 18%
  • CSI, 15%
  • TV Show, 12%
  • ABC, 11%
  • Body Movements, 9%
  • Feature Film, 8%

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