How much does a entertainer make?
Answer: A typical entertainer in the United States makes $39,146 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 17,000 people work in this job. Below the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Entertainer pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,118 | $39,146 | $116,730 | about 17,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can vary with experience, skill, specialty, and how well-known someone is; training or a credential may help in some kinds of work. The employer and type of show, location, and how many paid hours or bookings they get also matter.
What does a entertainer do?
All entertainers and performers, sports and related workers not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
An entertainer may rehearse and prepare in a theater, theme park, or event space, then perform for an audience. Shows may be in evenings or on weekends, and short bookings mean looking for the next job.
How to get this job
In the U.S., BLS lists no formal school credential or related experience and only short on-the-job training for this broad job. Practice an act and seek auditions or local gigs; the path depends on your specialty.
Did you know?
Ringling Bros. opened a U.S. “Clown College” in 1968; nearly 1,300 people graduated to become clowns.
Earn more in the same field
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). Only an hourly wage is published for this job, so the yearly figure is an estimate. bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/oes/2022/may/oes272099.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-2099.00
- www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/actors.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- blog.mcny.org/2014/09/23/clowns
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY