Circus Artistic Director: Leads the creative side of a circus or cirque production, keeping performance quality high. Typical pay $110k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Circus Aerialist: Performs acrobatics high in the air on trapeze, silks, hoops, or straps. Typical pay $55k.
Puppet Builder: Designs and builds puppets for TV, film, theater, and theme parks. Typical pay $55k.
Ringmaster / Circus Host: Hosts and narrates a circus or variety show, introducing acts and keeping the energy up. Typical pay $55k.
Circus Rigger: Installs and inspects the overhead equipment aerialists hang from. Typical pay $70k.
Illusion Designer & Builder: Designs and builds the secret props and machinery behind magic tricks. Typical pay $60k.
Circus Casting Specialist: Finds acrobats, aerialists, and specialty acts for big circus and spectacle productions. Typical pay $70k.
Big Top Crew Chief: Leads the crew that raises and takes down a circus big top tent, seating, and rigging, often in a new town every week. Typical pay $55k.
Starter: fastest way in
Acrobat / Tumbler: Performs flips, balances, and human pyramids in circuses, shows, and halftime events. Typical pay $40k.
Contortionist: Performs acts that show extreme flexibility, bending into shapes that look impossible. Typical pay $40k.
Juggler: Performs juggling routines at festivals, corporate events, cruise ships, and variety shows. Typical pay $35k.
Clown / Physical Comedian: Uses physical comedy and character to make audiences laugh, in circuses, theaters, and even hospitals. Typical pay $35k.
Magician / Illusionist: Performs magic tricks and illusions at events, restaurants, corporate gigs, and theaters. Typical pay $45k.
Mentalist: Performs 'mind-reading' and psychological illusions for audiences. Typical pay $45k.
Ventriloquist: Performs comedy by 'throwing' their voice through a puppet partner. Typical pay $35k.
Puppeteer: Performs puppets on TV, in films, theater, and theme parks. Typical pay $50k.
Fire Performer: Spins, juggles, and even 'breathes' fire in shows at festivals, luaus, and events. Typical pay $34k.
Stilt Walker: Performs on stilts at parades, festivals, and events as a towering costumed character. Typical pay $30k.
Sideshow Performer: Performs classic sideshow acts like sword swallowing, bed of nails, and human blockhead. Typical pay $30k.
Renaissance Faire Performer / Jouster: Performs at Renaissance faires and medieval dinner shows: jousting, sword fights, and street theater. Typical pay $35k.
Street Performer (Busker): Performs music, magic, or acts on streets and subway platforms for tips. Typical pay $20k.
Children's Party Entertainer: Entertains at birthday parties with balloon animals, face painting, magic, or costumed characters. Typical pay $30k.
High-Wire Walker: Balances and performs on a thin wire high above the ground in circuses and spectacles. Typical pay $40k.
Escape Artist: Escapes from handcuffs, straitjackets, locked boxes, and tanks of water in front of audiences. Typical pay $35k.
Circus Arts Instructor: Teaches aerial silks, trapeze, juggling, and acrobatics at circus schools and gyms. Typical pay $38k.
Drag Performer: Performs in exaggerated costume and makeup, combining lip-syncing, comedy, dance, and hosting at clubs, shows, and events. Typical pay $35k.
Hospital Clown: Performs gentle clowning for children in hospitals to reduce fear and boredom. Typical pay $40k.
Globe of Death Motorcycle Rider: Rides motorcycles at full speed inside a steel mesh ball with other riders, a classic thrill act at circuses and fairs. Typical pay $40k.
Magic Shop Owner: Runs a store that sells magic tricks, props, and books, demonstrates tricks for customers, and often invents and sells new effects online. Typical pay $40k.
Theatrical Pickpocket: Entertains audiences by secretly taking watches, wallets, and ties from volunteers on stage and giving them back, and teaches security teams how real thieves work. Typical pay $45k.
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.