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Patient Actor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mount Sinai Medical Center

$56 - $84/hr

Description The Healthcare Simulation Role Player (Actor) is a professional actor who assists with the conduct of training activities by serving as a simulated patient or other relevant role. The ...

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How much do patient actor jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for patient actor in the United States is $21.35, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $25.72 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a patient actor?

Patient actors, also known as standardized patients, are individuals trained to simulate real patients in order to help medical students and professionals practice clinical and communication skills. They portray specific medical conditions, histories, and symptoms in a consistent manner during exams or training sessions. This allows healthcare providers to practice diagnosis, patient interaction, and bedside manner in a controlled and educational setting.

What are the typical responsibilities of a patient actor during a medical simulation session?

As a Patient Actor, your primary responsibility is to accurately portray specific symptoms, medical histories, and emotional states to help medical students or professionals practice their clinical and communication skills. You may be required to memorize scripts, provide consistent feedback, and participate in debriefings after sessions. It's important to maintain a high level of professionalism, adapt to various scenarios, and collaborate closely with instructors and evaluators to ensure a realistic and educational experience for learners.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a patient actor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Patient Actor, you need strong acting skills, attention to detail, and the ability to accurately portray medical scenarios, often supported by experience in theater or performance. Familiarity with medical terminology, simulation protocols, and sometimes basic healthcare certifications are valuable for this role. Excellent communication, adaptability, and professionalism are crucial soft skills for receiving feedback and collaborating with educators and healthcare trainees. These abilities are important to create realistic, effective learning experiences that enhance the training and assessment of medical professionals.

What is the difference between Patient Actor vs Patient Simulator?

AspectPatient ActorPatient Simulator
CredentialsMinimal; acting skills often preferredTechnical certifications or programming knowledge sometimes required
Work EnvironmentHospitals, training centers, simulation labsSimulation labs, medical training facilities, hospitals
Employer & Industry UsageMedical training programs, hospitals, educational institutionsMedical schools, hospitals, simulation centers
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in medical training, acting in healthcareTechnical training, medical simulation, healthcare education

Patient Actors perform as real patients to help train healthcare professionals, focusing on acting and communication skills. Patient Simulators are advanced devices or mannequins used for realistic medical training, often requiring technical knowledge. While both roles support medical education, Patient Actors emphasize interaction and acting, whereas Patient Simulators focus on technical medical procedures.

How much do patient actors make?

Patient actors typically earn between $15 and $30 per hour, depending on the location, experience, and the complexity of the role. Some may be paid a flat fee for specific assignments or sessions, especially in medical training or research settings.

How to become a patient actor?

To become a patient actor, individuals typically need to have good communication skills, a reliable appearance, and the ability to follow instructions. Many roles require training or experience in acting or healthcare simulation, and some positions may require background checks or certifications. Building a portfolio or demo reel can help in securing assignments for medical training, research, or educational purposes.
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Patient Actor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Patient Actor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $44,413 per year, or $21.4 per hour.

Actor/Performer-Standardized Patient

National Board of Chiropractic Examiners

Greeley, CO • On-site

$25/hr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Re-posted 20 hours ago

Job description

Description


Actor / Performer - Standardized Patient


Pay - $25 per hour


As Needed-Nonexempt


Schedule & Shifts - As needed Friday - Sunday (with flexibility to occasionally work limited hours during the week). Three 5-hour shifts between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Hours may fluctuate as the program is established. 


Minimum age - 18


National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) - Our New Assessment Center: Coming March 2026

Join the NBCE team as we open our new state of the art Assessment Center to administer pre-licensure examinations for chiropractic students! Our Part IV exam is a practical, clinical assessment designed to test the student's (i.e., examinee's) hands-on skills. We are now hiring Standardized Patients who will learn and act out case scenarios, depicting specific health conditions, during these assessments. 


ROLE SUMMARY:


The Standardized Patient (SP) is trained to portray health conditions realistically, accurately, and consistently during a performance-based assessment. The SP recreates the case history, personality and physical and emotional responses of an actual patient with a particular health condition. This role requires a high level of professionalism, reliability, and discretion in a high-stake testing environment. 


ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

  • Realistically, accurately, and consistently portray a patient case scenario including history, emotional state, physical symptoms and behavior according to the provided scripts.
  • SPs are expected to learn and demonstrate physical maneuvers to simulate the assigned conditions. 
  • Provide computer-scored and written feedback to examinees according to the guidelines provided by NBCE. 
  • Interactions between SPs and examinees are video recorded and utilized by Chiropractic Examiners, which are licensed Doctor of Chiropractic, for scoring performance assessments. 
  • SPs must be comfortable wearing examination gowns over standard undergarments (e.g. sports bra or full-coverage underwear) while working with examinees, and will allow students to perform non-invasive physical exam maneuvers on their bodies (e.g. listening to the heart and lungs on skin with a stethoscope, pressing on the abdomen with finger pads on skin, performing multiple orthopedic-neurological maneuvers using legs, arms, hands, etc.)
  • SPs are required to attend ongoing and regularly scheduled training sessions.
  • Follow NBCE guidelines on confidentiality, professional behavior, and safety protocols. SPs must maintain confidentiality of all case materials, descriptions of patient scenarios, and interaction with examinees and other SPs.

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:


Education & Experience

  • High School diploma or equivalent
  • No previous work experience required.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

  • Ability to memorize, internalize, and realistically portray assigned case scenarios. 
  • The ability to follow written and verbal instructions is essential. 
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Willingness to be videotaped. 
  • Basic computer skills are required (e.g., logging into virtual meeting spaces, typing short paragraphs, opening an email attachment, clicking on a web address, checking boxes on an electronic checklist).
  • A valid e-mail address and access to internet required.
  • Regular and punctual attendance is required to support the operations of a high stakes testing environment. 
  • Medical knowledge or acting experience is not required.
  • Legally authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer.

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the candidate's satisfactory completion of the NBCE's pre-employment, post-offer screening process, including a background check (criminal history), motor vehicle record check, and drug screen.


Headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) is the international testing organization for the chiropractic profession, with the mission of ensuring professional competency and public safety through excellence in testing. Established in 1963, NBCE develops, administers, and scores standardized examinations for candidates seeking chiropractic licensure in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in several international countries. Our new assessment center will increase testing opportunities, improve standardization, and incorporate cutting-edge technology, ensuring that future chiropractors are fully prepared to serve patients with skill, integrity, and excellence. 


The NBCE is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, creed, national origin, age 40 and older, sex including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and pregnancy, marital status, military status, disability, or genetic information, or other characteristics protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.


COMPENSATION: $25 per hour 


BENEFITS (waiting periods may apply): 

Pro-rated Sick Time off

Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave

401(k) Plan


Work Location: In Person

APPLICATION WINDOW

Application Deadline: 8/30/26

Apply