It's hard. Acting work is short-term, many actors hold another job, and a single TV role can draw thousands of submissions. But it isn't closed: casting directors do cast new actors, most often in younger and smaller roles, and the prepared are the ones ready when a chance comes. We asked 14 casting directors how many of the actors they audition are new talent.
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Hard enough that most actors plan for it. As of November 2026, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' actors profile says part-time work is common, jobs usually last from a day to a few months, and actors often hold another job and have gaps between roles.
| BLS figure for US actors | Value |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage (May 2025) | $29.05 |
| Lowest 10% earned less than | $16.50 an hour |
| Highest 10% earned more than | $143.68 an hour |
| Jobs (2025) | About 67,500 |
| Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 | Little or no change |
| Openings each year | About 6,300 |
Those are averages across a huge range. For what each kind of job pays, see how much actors make.
Long, even for small parts. Casting director Lisa Zambetti told us a co-star or guest star role can draw a couple of thousand submissions. She would pre-read about 50 actors and bring seven to nine to the producers. Director Kate Dennis said even for smaller roles she'd expect to see around a dozen tested, depending on time and budget.
So most auditions end in a no, for everyone. Kym Jackson, SAS founder, says 20 to 40 auditions between bookings is about average, not a sign you're failing.
Yes, but the room is mostly working actors. We asked 14 casting directors what share of the actors they audition are new talent. Most said the majority have credits. Seth Yanklewitz put working or represented actors at about 75%, and John Frank Levey said roughly 75 to 25. Ricki Maslar estimated a quarter to a third are new, because her office is always looking for "that next diamond in the rough."
Several said it simply depends on the role, and almost all said they like finding someone new. Ricki Maslar told us she'll give a newcomer with classes and a referral a shot. Lou Mitchell explained the other side: directors often ask for actors they've already worked with, which fills part of every list before casting adds new faces.
The casting directors agreed on where new actors get through:
Because careers build slowly, and the myth says they shouldn't. Casting director Risa Bramon Garcia told us what holds actors back most is expectation: believing it has to happen fast, in a neat ladder from co-star to series regular to awards. She said the big careers people point to took decades, and that it's "not 10,000 hours, it's 100,000 hours."
Casting director Seth Yanklewitz said the same about comedy stars: many spent years writing and performing in small theatres first. "These are not overnight sensations."
More than anyone likes to admit, and less than you'd think. Casting director Josh Einsohn told us he got the job that changed his career by answering a phone on its last ring. His lesson: luck plays a big part in this industry, but you can't rely on it. Do the training and the homework so that when luck calls, you're ready to get the job and keep it.
Chris Roe, who has managed actors for 24 years, says the same about skills: learn languages, riding, combat and anything else you can, and put it on your resume, because you never know which one will matter.
Readiness, peers and your own work. Casting director Kahleen Crawford's advice to new actors: make your own material with people you've trained with, and be ready to self tape tomorrow, with your readers, setup and file naming sorted. She has seen actors lose opportunities because they weren't. Stay close to your classmates too, because you'll each hear about different things.
And no connections isn't a dead end. Casting director Kerry Barden told us his parents had nothing to do with the film business; he did every school play and theatre class he could, moved to LA, acted for years, and then found his way into casting.
Ask why you want it. Pete Malicki says acting is incredibly competitive and most people won't make a living from it, so look at your reasons. Loving stories and characters is wonderful, but you can do that on evenings and weekends with more financial stability. If you want it as your living, he suggests following the usual route (training, an agent, auditions) while building other paths alongside it, like teaching or your own business.
Either way, it's your call. Our guides to starting later and deciding whether to keep going go further.
Yes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says part-time work is common and actors often hold another job, and a single TV role can draw thousands of submissions. But casting directors told us they do cast new actors.
Yes, but less often. Most of the 14 casting directors we asked said the majority of actors they audition have credits, with new talent most common in younger and smaller roles.
Casting director Lisa Zambetti told us a co-star or guest star role can draw a couple of thousand submissions; she would pre-read about 50 and show seven to nine to producers.
Kym Jackson says 20 to 40 auditions between bookings is about average for a working actor.
There is no set timeline. Casting director Risa Bramon Garcia said the big careers actors admire usually took decades.
Many do. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says actors often hold another job to make a living and may have periods of unemployment between roles.
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All rates current from bls.gov as of 9 November 2026.