Also called: Simulated Patient, Patient Actor
An actor who plays a patient so medical students can practice exams and difficult conversations.
Memorizes a 'case' (say, a 45-year-old with chest pain who is secretly scared), plays it convincingly for 10 med students in a row, then gives each one feedback on how they did. Usually part-time.
Estimate; paid hourly ($20-30/hr) and usually part-time.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. No degree needed; training provided. Acting experience helps.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Theater.
Growing about average. Steady at medical schools.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Virtual AI patients will handle some practice drills; live actors stay the gold standard for exams and hard-conversation training.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to standardized patient programs at nearby medical schools
Classes: Theater, Psychology, Speech, Health.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-2011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.