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Job outlook for theater teachers in the United States
Are theater teacher jobs in demand?
Theater teacher job and salary trends over time
Theater teacher jobs over time
Theater teacher job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,036 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,978 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 2,067 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 2,099 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,050 | 0.00% |
Average theater teacher salary over time
Theater teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $52,481 | $25.23 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | $51,471 | $24.75 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $50,352 | $24.21 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $49,392 | $23.75 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $48,441 | $23.29 | +1.5% |
Theater teacher jobs by state
Most common states for theater teachers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 123 | 18% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 171 | 13% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 653 | 11% |
| 4 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 607 | 11% |
| 5 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,223 | 10% |
| 6 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 910 | 10% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 93 | 10% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 637 | 9% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 516 | 9% |
| 10 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 193 | 9% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 91 | 9% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 148 | 8% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 619 | 7% |
| 14 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 206 | 7% |
| 15 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 195 | 7% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 191 | 7% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 813 | 6% |
| 18 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 603 | 6% |
| 19 | Vermont | 623,657 | 40 | 6% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 35 | 6% |
Theater Teacher job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of theater teacher experts
University of New Orleans
Colby-Sawyer College
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
University of Kansas
University of Mary Washington
University of California
American University
Kalo Gow
Assistant Professor of Voice and Movement & Graduate Coordinator for TheatreUniversity of New Orleans
Department of Film and Theatre
What experience really stands out on Theater Teacher resumes?
Kalo Gow: The versatility of an actor stands out. Are they trained holistically, voice and movement in addition to acting for stage and screen? Level of experience, the volume of shows, and films. Ultimately it comes down to their audition, but I want to see that an actor has been working steadily to build their resume. What have they done since leaving school? Have they continued or supplemented their education with acting, dance, or singing lessons? Community theatre projects and student short films are resume builders if professional work isn't immediately forthcoming. A performer's body is their instrument--are they keeping it in shape (physically and creatively)?
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Theater Teachers in the next 3-5 years?
R. Todd Coy Ph.D.: Even before the onset of COVID-19, the increasing importance of technology in areas like education and business communications was apparent. I believe Covid only served to speed up the oncoming changes. Using online formats to deliver professional services like mental health or education will continue to become even more mainstream. Therefore, staying current with the various applications and features found online will allow you to be more effective and marketable.
Maggie Beeber
Undergraduate Advising Coordinator & Teacher Certification OfficerUniversity of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
School of Education
What general advice would you give to a Theater Teacher?
Maggie Beeber: Be flexible when searching for that first job. Spread your wings and be willing to live in a new community. You may find that it changes your whole life and is the perfect fit. Remember how hard you have worked to earn this degree. You are strong and can succeed in anything you put work into. We also want you to remember we are here if you need us.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Theater Teachers?
Tanya Hartman: I think that online exhibitions will allow artists to share their work affordably, as shipping large, heavy works of art is financially daunting. I think attendance at artist's lectures will increase because people will attend remotely. But I think that making art digitally will not increase but remain one option, among many, for creating. People love to make objects using physical materials. It seems inherent to human nature. Some experience the computer as material, as a tangible object through which creativity flows, while others prefer to paint or clay, but what matters most is that our culture support all forms of making, and that dialogue occurs, whether through remote of face to face contact.
Janine Davis Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity of Mary Washington
College of Education
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Theater Teachers?
Janine Davis Ph.D.: For our teacher education graduates, the impact of the pandemic will most likely work in their favor when it comes to finding jobs-the pandemic has led to many retirements, which will mean that we will need even more teachers to fill those empty positions. At the same time, the advent of increased virtual learning means that it will no longer be an option that teachers know and use technology, including teaching online and using learning management and data analysis systems-those skills will almost certainly be a non-negotiable for future teaching positions. Finally, I think that this event has highlighted the importance of working as part of a team of teachers and other school leaders.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Theater Teachers?
Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz: Yes. In the world of theatrical/live event lighting design, it is going to take years to get back to normal. Students graduating in 2020 and 2021 will have to diversify their skillset. If they want to thrive in the entertainment industry, for the next few years, they will need to have skills in Architectural lighting, TV, and film.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Theater Teachers?
Karl Kippola Ph.D.: Of course. The pandemic is almost sure to have an enduring impact on current students and graduates, and all people working in the world of theatre. Theatre artists are struggling to find ways to keep active, relevant, and continue to grow in their craft.
Because nearly all theatres in the country have shut down in-person productions, finding employment is challenging. And nobody truly knows what will happen when theatres eventually re-open. Our world continues to need theatre -- and desperately needs the creativity and passion of our current graduates. Theatre artists are working on translating their skills in entertainment and activism to alternate platforms.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Theater Teachers to find work opportunities?
Karl Kippola Ph.D.: One of the silver linings about finding work in the world of theatre is that physical location matters very little. Creating, producing, and promoting theatre in the virtual world has encouraged artists to connect across the country and worldwide, without leaving your house or getting out of your pajamas. New partnerships are forming. People are freely exchanging ideas and inspirations. Of necessity, those looking for work have had to be proactive in reaching out to people they don't know.
But recent graduates also are forming companies specifically designed to address the needs, limitations, and possibilities of our current moment. Creating a career in the arts always has been difficult. It is more difficult now. But not impossible. Again, the world desperately needs skills. Graduates must be tirelessly proactive in looking for opportunities -- and in creating their work.
Once things begin to re-open -- or even if we shift to some limited-capacity, or hybrid form of audience engagement -- then the physical location will start to matter again. Major cities, as before, likely will remain artistic centers. But the theatre always has been everywhere. And it will continue to be.
How do you envision technology impacting Theater Teachers in the next 5 years?
Karl Kippola Ph.D.: An excellent question that theatre professionals and educators are continually discussing. I'm not sure anybody thinks that things will ultimately go back to the way they once were. As an art form, the theatre will die if it doesn't figure out how to adjust to its needs. Theatre artists have discovered the powers and possibilities of many online tools.
We have reached audiences that wouldn't choose to step into a theatre. While the live interaction of a play and its audience is likely to remain a hallmark of theatre, it is not the only way. We are discovering that there are other ways we can reach people. Different methods can make a difference.
Theatre artists are trained to improvise and work under enormous pressure, within a limited budget, and under impossible time constraints. Above all, artists are collaborators and communicators -- precisely the people needed to confront the challenges facing us -- in the theatre and out. And no one, perhaps, is better equipped to tackle these challenges than our current students and graduates, whose lives have been a nearly constant crucible of experience, uncertainty, and change.