Play parts in stage, television, radio, video, or film productions, or other settings for entertainment, information, or instruction. Interpret serious or comic role by speech, gesture, and body movement to entertain or inform audience. May dance and sing.
Sample of reported job titles:
Actor, Actress, Comedian, Comic, Community Theater Actor, Ensemble Member, Narrator, Performer, Tour Actor, Voice-Over Artist
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Tasks
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Collaborate with other actors as part of an ensemble.
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Portray and interpret roles, using speech, gestures, and body movements, to entertain, inform, or instruct radio, film, television, or live audiences.
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Work closely with directors, other actors, and playwrights to find the interpretation most suited to the role.
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Perform humorous and serious interpretations of emotions, actions, and situations, using body movements, facial expressions, and gestures.
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Study and rehearse roles from scripts to interpret, learn and memorize lines, stunts, and cues as directed.
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Learn about characters in scripts and their relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.
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Attend auditions and casting calls to audition for roles.
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Sing or dance during dramatic or comedic performances.
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Work with other crew members responsible for lighting, costumes, make-up, and props.
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Tell jokes, perform comic dances, songs and skits, impersonate mannerisms and voices of others, contort face, and use other devices to amuse audiences.
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Read from scripts or books to narrate action or to inform or entertain audiences, utilizing few or no stage props.
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Promote productions using means such as interviews about plays or movies.
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Prepare and perform action stunts for motion picture, television, or stage productions.
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Write original or adapted material for dramas, comedies, puppet shows, narration, or other performances.
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Introduce performances and performers to stimulate excitement and coordinate smooth transition of acts during events.
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Dress in comical clown costumes and makeup, and perform comedy routines to entertain audiences.
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Construct puppets and ventriloquist dummies, and sew accessory clothing, using hand tools and machines.
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Perform original and stock tricks of illusion to entertain and mystify audiences, occasionally including audience members as participants.
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Technology Skills
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Data base user interface and query software — FileMaker Pro
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Electronic mail software — Email software; Microsoft Outlook
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Instant messaging software — Twitter
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Internet browser software — Web browser software
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Office suite software — Microsoft Office software
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Operating system software — Linux
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Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
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Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
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Video conferencing software — Zoom
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Video creation and editing software — Apple Final Cut Pro; Motion capture software; TikTok
; YouTube
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Web page creation and editing software — Facebook
; Instagram; LinkedIn
; Website development software
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Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technologies are requirements most frequently included across all employer job postings.
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Work Activities
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Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
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Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
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Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
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Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
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Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
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Communicating with People Outside the Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
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Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
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Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
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Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
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Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
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Detailed Work Activities
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Collaborate with others to prepare or perform artistic productions.
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Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
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Study scripts to determine project requirements.
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Practice athletic or artistic skills.
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Perform music for the public.
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Collaborate with others to determine technical details of productions.
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Promote products, activities, or organizations.
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Write material for artistic or entertainment purposes.
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Inform viewers, listeners, or audiences.
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Construct distinctive physical objects for artistic, functional, or commercial purposes.
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Work Context
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Work With Work Group or Team — 100% responded “Extremely important.”
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Physical Proximity — 80% responded “Very close (near touching).”
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Electronic Mail — 77% responded “Every day.”
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Time Pressure — 69% responded “Every day.”
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Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 61% responded “Every day.”
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Public Speaking — 75% responded “Every day.”
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Level of Competition — 68% responded “Highly competitive.”
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Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 72% responded “Very important.”
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Spend Time Standing — 46% responded “More than half the time.”
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Telephone — 56% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
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Deal With External Customers — 28% responded “Extremely important.”
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Frequency of Decision Making — 26% responded “Every day.”
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Freedom to Make Decisions — 67% responded “Limited freedom.”
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Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 79% responded “Moderate results.”
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Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting — 34% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
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Work Schedules — 79% responded “Irregular (changes with weather conditions, production demands, or contract duration).”
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Coordinate or Lead Others — 34% responded “Fairly important.”
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Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 21% responded “Moderate responsibility.”
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Job Zone
- Title
- Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
- Related Experience
- Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
- Job Training
- Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
- Job Zone Examples
- These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
- SVP Range
- (4.0 to < 6.0)
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Training & Credentials
- State training
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- Local training
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- Certifications
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- State licenses
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Apprenticeship Opportunities
Example apprenticeship titles for this occupation:
Specific title(s) listed above are vetted by industry and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor for use in a Registered Apprenticeship Program.
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Skills
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Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
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Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
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Knowledge
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Fine Arts — Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
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English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Communications and Media — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
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Sociology and Anthropology — Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
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Psychology — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
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Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
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Abilities
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Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Memorization — The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
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Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
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Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
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Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
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Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
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Fluency of Ideas — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
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Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
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Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
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Interests
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Artistic — Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.
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Social — Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
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Enterprising — Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
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Work Values
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Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
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Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
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Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
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Work Styles
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Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
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Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
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Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
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Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
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Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
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Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
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Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
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Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
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Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
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Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
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Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
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Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
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Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
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Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
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Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
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Wages & Employment Trends
- Median wages (2023)
- $20.50 hourly
- State wages
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- Local wages
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- Employment (2022)
- 78,100 employees
- Projected growth (2022-2032)
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Average (2% to 4%)
- Projected job openings (2022-2032)
- 9,300
- State trends
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- Top industries (2022)
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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 wage data
external site and 2022-2032 employment projections
external site.
“Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2022-2032). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.
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Job Openings on the Web
- State job openings
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- Local job openings
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Professional Associations
Disclaimer:
Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries.
Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
Actively assisted with the O*NET data collection, helping to identify occupational experts who can be surveyed about their work in the occupation.
View the list of Allies
National Associations
Accreditation, Certification, & Unions
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