Also called: Musical Theater Performer, Ensemble Member
Sings, dances, and acts in Broadway or touring musicals under union (Actors' Equity) contracts.
A Broadway ensemble member warms up their voice and body, performs eight shows a week, and might also understudy a lead role, ready to go on with an hour's notice.
Actors' Equity Broadway minimum is about $2,600 per week, but shows close and performers often go months between contracts.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. BFA in musical theater common; years of voice, dance, and acting training.
Ways in: 4-year college, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Musical Theater, Dance, Voice Performance.
Growing slowly. Very competitive; limited number of shows.
Low risk for 10 years. Live musical theater is human by nature; AI changes marketing and rehearsal tools, not the performance.
Classes: Theater, Choir, Dance, Music theory.
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.