1

Professional Actor Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Simulation Specialists are professional actors who use digital avatars to deliver a wide range of simulation scenarios to provide individual learners with opportunities to practice and master complex ...

The Customer Experience Professional is responsible for coordinating the setup of customer services, ensuring the smooth execution of deliveries and installations, and acting as a liaison between the ...

The Customer Experience Professional is responsible for coordinating the setup of customer services, ensuring the smooth execution of deliveries and installations, and acting as a liaison between the ...

The Customer Experience Professional is responsible for coordinating the setup of customer services, ensuring the smooth execution of deliveries and installations, and acting as a liaison between the ...

Part-Time Customer Experience Professional

Oshkosh, WI · On-site

$14.75 - $18.75/hr

The Part-Time Customer Experience Professional is responsible for coordinating the setup of customer services, ensuring the smooth execution of deliveries and installations, and acting as a liaison ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Professional Actor information

See Wisconsin salary details

$5

$22

$55

How much do professional actor jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for professional actor in Wisconsin is $22.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $11.15 and $44.18 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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, it is important to gain training through acting classes or a drama program, build a portfolio with headshots and a demo reel, and gain experience through auditions, community theater, or student films. Developing strong acting skills, understanding industry standards, and networking with industry professionals can also improve chances of success.

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.

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 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.
What are the most commonly searched types of Actor jobs in Wisconsin? The most popular types of Actor jobs in Wisconsin are:
Infographic showing various Professional Actor job openings in Wisconsin as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 23% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,672 per year, or $22.4 per hour.

$30/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.Job Category:Academic StaffEmployment Type:RegularJob Profile:ArtistJob Summary:

The SimLab in the Wisconsin Center for Education allows individuals to learn and develop skills in simulated environments. Simulating scenarios is an innovative approach to providing professionals and pre-professionals with the opportunity to practice learned skills in real-life scenarios. We are seeking a Simulation Specialist to puppeteer digital avatars while performing scenarios in fields such as education, nursing, medicine, and law.

Simulation Specialists are professional actors who use digital avatars to deliver a wide range of simulation scenarios to provide individual learners with opportunities to practice and master complex interpersonal skills. Simulation Specialists will have a high level of emotional intelligence, strong active listening skills, effective communication skills, the ability to portray a wide range of personality profiles, and the ability to provide a positive and impactful experience for learners.

The ideal candidate will have a background in acting and improvisation performance. This person should also be comfortable with ever-evolving technology. This role may portray avatars across various age ranges (from childhood to adult) and industries (from education to healthcare to corporate). This person will also contribute to creating and writing prompts for the AI-driven simulations.

Key Responsibilities

  • Consistently deliver scenarios in an accurate, reliable, and professional manner in alignment with stated learning objectives

  • Portray a variety of perspectives using Mursion's Proprietary technology

  • Facilitate reflection and debrief with diverse learner populations in alignment with stated learning objectives

  • Promote and provide excellent customer service when interacting with learners, including welcoming learners, answering questions, providing information in a courteous manner across diverse learner populations

  • Proactively and effectively organize and manage simulation schedule

  • Collaborate in the writing of prompts for AI-driven simulations

  • Attend mandatory trainings and meetings with the SimLab Director and/or team

Key Job Responsibilities:
  • Develops creative ideas and/or new methods for making art within designated field
  • Displays work at shows, galleries, concerts, museums, and/or online, and communicates work broadly with diverse audiences

Deliver scenarios in an accurate, reliable, and professional manner in alignment with stated learning objectives

  • Pursues grants to obtain financial support for projects
  • Experiments with and uses different materials (e.g., paint, film, instruments, ceramics, glass, textiles, wood, metal, and paper) and/or techniques (e.g., composition, color, space, and/or perspective) to produce desired artistic effects
  • Develops portfolios highlighting artistic styles and creative processes

Support development of materials for human-in-the-loop and AI-driven simulations

Department:

School of Education / Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) Simulation Lab (SimLab)

Compensation:

Minimum: $30/HR

Commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

Required Qualifications:
  • Strong verbal communication skills and clear diction, substantial acting or improvisational experience, mastery of an actor's instrument: voice, body, imagination

  • Experience using the Mursion platform or similar simulation technologies

  • Demonstrated organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple assignments, schedules, and priorities

  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment

  • Ability to provide excellent customer service while creating a welcoming and supportive learning environment

  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism while working with learners, faculty, staff, and external partners

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Applicants must have room for the equipment provided for the position

  • Applicants must have a quiet environment within their home to deliver simulations or be willing to work on-site

  • Applicants must have the ability to connect equipment to an internet router with an ethernet cord

  • Applicants must have high-speed internet

Education:

Required: H.S. Diploma

Preferred: Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Drama, Communications, or related field.

How to Apply:

Please go to the "Apply Now" area and select your current UW Employment Status.

Upload a copy of:

  • Cover Letter

  • Current Resume/CV

Note:

  • There is one upload area in Workday, but you can upload multiple documents to your application. Incomplete application packages that do not include all of the requested documentation will not be considered.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. UW-Madison is not an E-Verify employer, and therefore, is not eligible to employ F1 STEM OPT Extension participants.

Contact Information:

Jessica Tierney

SimLab Operations Manager

jtierney5@wisc.edu

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodationfor any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying to.Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.