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Professional Actor Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Speak LLC

Bilingual Actor - French - English

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$16.75 - $21/hr

Portray a professional in a different industry other than education who is excited that their ... Acting experience Why work at Speak * Join a fantastic, tight-knit team at the right time: we're ...

Strategic Operations, Inc.

Cut Suit Actor

San Diego, CA · On-site

Individuals should be professionals that pride themselves in doing what is necessary to ensure the ... The Cut Suit RP will be proficient in acting out the type of wound assigned * The Cut Suit RP will ...

Speak

Bilingual Actor - French - English

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$16.75 - $21/hr

Portray a professional in a different industry other than education who is excited that their ... Acting experience Why work at Speak * Join a fantastic, tight-knit team at the right time: we're ...

Speak

Bilingual Actor - Korean - English

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$65 - $75/hr

Portray a professional in a different industry other than education who is excited that their ... Acting experience * A passion for language teaching/learning Working Conditions Speak offers ...

UC San Diego

Associate Professor of Acting

San Diego, CA · On-site

$103K - $124K/yr

Associate Professor of Acting Salary range: A reasonable salary range estimate for this position is ... Professional experience and/or relevant training venues may include: resident and regional theatres ...

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All JobsProfessional Actor JobsProfessional Actor Jobs in California

Professional Actor information

See California salary details

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$21

$53

How much do professional actor jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for professional actor in California is $21.94, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $10.91 and $43.17 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a professional actor?

Professional actors are individuals who perform roles in theater, television, film, or other media as their primary occupation. They bring scripts to life by portraying characters, using voice, movement, and emotion to engage audiences. Actors often audition for roles, attend rehearsals, and may work irregular hours depending on the production schedule. Their work requires creativity, adaptability, and the ability to work collaboratively with directors and other performers.

How do professional actors typically collaborate with directors and other cast members during a production?

Professional actors work closely with directors to interpret scripts, develop characters, and deliver performances that align with the overall vision of the production. Collaboration often involves attending rehearsals, participating in table reads, and giving and receiving constructive feedback with fellow cast members. Effective communication, adaptability, and a willingness to take direction are essential for building strong on-stage or on-screen chemistry. This teamwork not only enhances the final performance but also creates a supportive, creative environment that fosters professional growth.

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

To thrive as a Professional Actor, you need strong acting technique, emotional range, and often formal training from drama schools or conservatories. Familiarity with audition platforms, script analysis software, and sometimes union memberships like SAG-AFTRA are typical technical requirements. Exceptional creativity, resilience, and clear communication make actors stand out in auditions and on set. These skills and qualities are crucial for delivering compelling performances and building a sustainable career in a highly competitive industry.

What is the difference between Professional Actor vs Theater Actor?

AspectProfessional ActorTheater Actor
CredentialsOften requires acting training, auditions, and sometimes representationTypically requires acting training or experience, but formal credentials are less strict
Work EnvironmentFilm, television, commercials, stage, and digital mediaPrimarily stage productions in theaters
Employer & IndustryStudios, production companies, casting agenciesTheaters, production companies, arts organizations
Search & Comparison IntentInterested in acting careers across various mediaFocused on stage acting opportunities and theater-specific roles

While both Professional Actors and Theater Actors perform in acting roles, Professional Actors often work across multiple media including film, TV, and digital platforms, requiring diverse skills and sometimes formal training. Theater Actors primarily focus on stage performances, often in live theater productions. The key differences lie in their work environments and the scope of their work, though both share foundational acting skills and industry connections.

How can I get into professional acting?

To become a professional actor, gain training through acting classes or a drama program, and build experience by participating in community theater, student films, or auditions. Developing a strong portfolio, learning industry tools like headshots and resumes, and networking with industry professionals can also improve chances of breaking into the field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Actor jobs in California?

The most popular types of Actor jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Professional Actor jobs?

Cities in California with the most Professional Actor job openings:

Professional Actor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Professional Actor job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,634 per year, or $21.9 per hour.

Bilingual Actor - Japanese - English

Speak

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Contractor

Re-posted 9 days ago

Job description

About us
Our mission is to reinvent the way people learn, starting with language.
Learning a language can change a life by opening doors to new cultures, careers, and communities. Two billion people around the world are actively trying to learn a language, but the best way to learn (one-on-one tutoring) is hard to access at scale and hasn't been meaningfully improved in decades. Speak is building a human-level, AI-powered tutor in your pocket: a conversation-first experience that lets learners actually speak, get instant feedback, and progress through carefully designed lessons. The result is a complete path from beginner to confident speaker across multiple languages.
Speak first launched in South Korea in 2019, where Speak has now become the number one language learning app, and we now serve learners across many markets and 15+ languages. Speak is one of the world's leading AI companies, with over $150m raised in venture investment from OpenAI, Accel, Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, and more, with a distributed team across San Francisco, Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, and Ljubljana.
About this role
We are seeking actors to appear in our app-based video lessons as language teachers (watch the sample video below under each role for reference). In these video lessons, you'll be seated behind a table facing a camera and deliver pre-written scripts explaining language concepts and phrases for learners. While these lessons are not live, they are interactive. Scripts also contain questions to the user and a variety of responses based on their performance. When a user goes through a video lesson, the video recording of your teaching will play, along with opportunities for the app user to practice the language you are teaching.
Bilingual Japanese teachers will act out scripts that teach English to speakers of Japanese.
Notes:
  • Actors for this role must be bilingual in Japanese and English.
  • Rather than a school-teacher, you will portray a professional perhaps in a different industry other than education, who is excited that their friend has decided to learn a new language (think helpful, friendly vibes rather than a strict teacher vibe).
  • We have a strong preference for native Japanese speakers and/or heritage Japanese speakers. Those who learned Japanese in high school or college will not qualify.
  • We want the Japanese to be delivered in a neutral Japanese accent.
  • Actors should not have an accent when speaking English.

Example Video:
https://youtu.be/_l9U-4Qly6k?si=wdMPBqj4GVQB3TKx
Why work at Speak
  1. Join a fantastic, tight-knit team at the right time: we're growing very quickly, we've most recently raised our Series C from some of the top investors in the valley, and we've achieved product-market fit in our initial markets. You'd join at a magical time when a single person could significantly change the course of the company.
  2. Do your life's work with people you'll love working with: we care strongly about our craft and want every person at Speak to feel like they're growing every day. We believe in the idea that working with people you both enjoy and have respect for makes everything better. We hire thoughtfully and only work with people we admire deeply.
  3. Global in nature: We're live in over 40 countries and launching in a number of new markets soon. We have dedicated offices in San Francisco, Ljubljana, Seoul, Tokyo, and Taipei, and you'll have the opportunity to talk to users in each of these regions on a regular basis as well as travel.
  4. Impact people's lives in a major way: Learning a language is one of the single most life-changing skills one can learn, and right now 99% of people never achieve their goal because the process is broken. We're helping millions of people achieve their goals and improve their lives.

Speak does not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Apply