Also called: Swing, Understudy
Learns several roles in a show so they can jump in for any performer who is sick or on vacation, sometimes with an hour's notice.
A swing may know eight different tracks in a musical, every dance step and harmony, and watch from the wings with a notebook most nights. When the phone rings at 6 p.m. they are on stage at 8 in someone else's costume.
Approximate; Actors' Equity Broadway minimum is over $2,500 a week, but contracts end when shows close.
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 training.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Musical Theater, Dance.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years). BLS projects little growth for actors.
Low risk for 10 years. Covering many roles in live shows is demanding human performance work AI can't do.
Classes: Theater, Dance, Choir, 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.