How to Become a Voice Actor

Voice acting consists of using your voice to portray a character, present information, or create sound effects.

Although voice actors often work on creative projects, such as in film and television production, they sometimes work in other industries as well.

Types of voice acting

Below are a few of the most common types of voice acting.

Voiceover

Voiceover (VO) refers to narrative voice acting. This includes broadcasted and non-broadcasted vocal recordings used for the following purposes:

• Documentaries
• Educational materials
• Audiobooks
• Interactive voice response (IVR) technology
• Text-to-speech technology
• Artificial intelligence (AI) technology
• Corporate projects
• Technological devices and apps
• Tutorials
• Overhead announcements (e.g., in transportation, government, or hospital settings)
• Automated messages

Voiceover work has a more functional role than other forms of voice acting. The emphasis is more on clarity than creativity.

Creative voice acting

Unlike voiceover, creative voice acting is all about the artistic side of vocal recording. It involves using different techniques (like voice modulation or manipulation of pitch, tone, or accent) to fulfill a creative vision.

Creative voice acting is often used for the following projects:

• Animation/anime
• Advertisements and commercials
• Video games
• Audiobooks
• Theater productions
• Puppet shows
• Radio shows

Creative voice actors are often tasked with bringing an animated character to life or dramatizing a narration.

Dubbing

Dubbing (also known as revoicing) is voiceover that completely replaces the audio from an original voice actor. It’s used exclusively in the post-production stage.

Voice actors often dub films or television shows that are being translated into a new language or modified for release in another country.

To do this type of voice acting, you’ll need keen observation skills, the ability to lip-sync, and sensitivity to the tone and style of the original recording.

If you have a voice, then you have the potential to be a voice actor. However, voice acting is an increasingly competitive industry, and realistically, you’ll also need certain skills, talent, and abilities to get ahead.

We collaborated on this article with Natasha Marchewka, a voice actor with over a decade of industry experience. She pointed out that going forward, not only will you be competing with other voice actors for work, you may be competing with AI as well, depending on the genre of voice acting you work in.

“You could conceivably be hired to record your voice for an AI company who could then use your voice to go after the same jobs you’re competing for as a human,” she told us.

Despite the stiff competition, Marchewka said that “Finding your niche in a type of voice acting is still a totally viable career and potentially a side hustle, if you are extremely determined.”

Required skills

To become a successful voice actor, you need the following skills:

• Acting ability
• Good sense of timing and vocal pacing
• Consistency
• Business and marketing skills

Marchewka told us that (contrary to what you might expect) you don’t necessarily need a broad vocal range or a clear, neutral accent to become a voice actor. Instead, she emphasized the importance of business skills, including the ability to market yourself and an understanding of professional norms.

“Besides the vocal skills and tech skills, you need business skills and training,” she said. “Those who are not familiar with how to interact professionally and who do not have the business know-how will not work in voiceover.”

Equipment

Making it as a voiceover artist doesn’t just come down to your skills. Even excellent vocal artistry can be sabotaged by poor recording conditions.

Fortunately, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to do voiceover work. To get started, all you really need is a microphone, a computer or another device to store the recording, and someplace quiet to record yourself (even a closet or basement will do).

With that said, if you’re serious about becoming a voice actor, you should consider investing in the following tools and equipment so that you can achieve a professional standard:

• Soundproofed recording space
• Professional-quality microphone
• Computer or laptop
• Headphones
• Audio editing software
• Audio interface
• Pop screen (Marchewka emphasized that this is optional and you don’t need one to succeed)

Having the right gear is especially important if you’re planning on being a remote or home-based voice actor, which is increasingly common these days. Clients will consider the quality of your recordings when deciding whether or not to hire you, and having professional recording equipment is the best way to secure gigs.

Where to get voice recording equipment

Marchewka recommended buying equipment from the following stores:

• BSW
• Sweetwater
• Guitar Center

Even with natural talent, proper equipment, and all the enthusiasm in the world, it can be tough to get your foot in the door.

With so many people fighting for a handful of jobs, how do you stand out? There are a few steps you can take that will help you.

1. Take advantage of free training resources

You don’t need a bachelor’s or master’s degree to be a voice actor. You don’t even need to pay for a certification. There are plenty of voice acting resources you can access completely for free:

• Blogs and online guides: Spend a while browsing Edge Studio’s website, which is full of tips on how to be a better voice actor. Marchewka also recommended the Voice Over Resource Guide (VORG), Voice Actor Websites, and the Voice Over Collective, all of which host voice acting resources.
• Practice voiceover scripts: Some websites provide sample scripts that you can download for free. Use these to practice your voiceover techniques and record demos. You can find scripts on Voices, Voicereels, Stage Milk (a great source for monologues), School of Voiceover, and Edge Studio.
• Podcasts: Unsurprisingly, many voice actors are also podcasters. You can learn more about the industry, hear interviews with experienced voiceover artists, and get advice on starting your own voice acting business by listening to popular podcasts like Voice Coaches Radio, The Middle Class VO Podcast, or VO Boss.
• YouTube channels: Check out YouTube channels like Voice Over Body Shop (VOBS) and VO Buzz Weekly to hear experts discuss their experiences in the field and learn practical tips for mastering the craft.
• Free courses: Before paying for a certification, you can dip your toe in the water with free classes, such as Udemy’s free voice training course. You can also sign up for voiceover training on Skillshare. Note that you’ll receive a 1-month trial period for free, but if you don’t cancel your subscription before it expires, you’ll be charged.

Of course, there are also many voice acting schools that offer paid coaching you can take advantage of. We’ll explore this in more depth further down in this article.

2. Practice (a lot)

Before you put yourself out there and try to land work (which will involve recording a demo), it’s very important to practice.

“This can be done with voiceover workout groups, with a coach, or in small group classes or workshops,” Marchewka said.

Take it seriously when you practice, and be ready to do it a lot. Voice acting is a skill that takes time and effort to develop.

Practicing also gives you a chance to define your voiceover style. Figuring out what you do well will help you market yourself to potential clients and land your first voice acting job.

3. Record a demo

Everyone in the VO industry will tell you that a demo is essential to getting work. Think of your voiceover demo as your resume—potential clients will listen to it to get a feel for your style and capabilities.

Follow these tips to record a solid demo:

• Make sure you’re prepared: It might be tempting to rush out and record a demo right away, but Marchewka cautioned against this. “Don’t record a demo until a reputable voiceover coach tells you you are ready,” she said. “Otherwise you will run into two problems. One, you’ll record something that won’t be competitive because you are not yet at a competitive level, and two, you might not be able to replicate your professionalism in an actual job when someone isn’t there to direct you, like they do in demo production.”
• Keep it short: Standard demo reels are around 30–80 seconds long and consist of multiple “spots” or segments of around 5–15 seconds each. For the best chance at capturing the listener’s interest, stick to these conventions. Marchewka said not to include an intro or “slate”—”it’s simply not done anymore.”
• Demonstrate your range: In a good demo reel, each spot will showcase a different point along your range. The first spot in your reel should be closest to your authentic voice, with later spots branching out into bolder territory.
• Avoid stereotypes and impersonations: It’s better to include voices that reflect your actual style than rely on clichés or impersonations, which are rarely what clients are looking for.

It’s also important to read from a script that flatters your voice and accentuates your capabilities. Marchewka told us that “a good demo producer will actually provide you with original scripts that are appropriate for your voice, your age, and your strengths.”

Creating multiple demo reels

Eventually, you may create more than one demo reel to target different types of voice acting jobs. Marchewka noted that she had several on her site showcasing her work in more than a dozen niches, including medical narration, in-show narration, medical jargon, and commercial voice work.

4. Network

Like with many other creative industries, networking is one of the best ways to break into voice acting. Some might even argue that it’s more important than directly applying for jobs.

Voice acting has become a largely solitary profession because so many people do it from home now, but it’s still possible to make connections with others in the field. Look out for opportunities in your area, such as clubs, conferences, or classes. You can also look for social media groups online.

“I don’t necessarily go out to network specifically,” Marchewka told us, “but like participating in social media, networking becomes part of one’s lifestyle. When participating in family or personal activities, one should always have a business card and be prepared to give a very short elevator pitch to anyone who might be interested, tactfully and appropriately.”

When it comes to looking for professional networking opportunities, she recommends:

• Voiceover conferences
• Other professional conferences (e.g., e-learning, documentary, marketing, or video production)
• Online and in-person classes and workshops
• Industry events and organizations
• Local Chamber of Commerce and business events

5. Audition regularly

You can audition for voice acting roles in person or from home. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how you do it—the important thing is that you audition frequently.

Auditioning gives you an opportunity to practice and get accustomed to standard procedures in the industry. Most importantly, it gives you a shot at real, paying voiceover jobs. Remember to warm up and rehearse before your auditions, and take each one seriously.

6. Keep practicing

Rejection is unavoidable in the voice acting industry. Try not to get discouraged. Listen to any feedback you receive and do your best to apply it.

You won’t be earning six figures overnight from voiceover gigs, but if you set aside time each day to practice, educate yourself, and exercise your voice, you’ll boost your odds of success.

If you’re serious about starting a voice acting side hustle, you might want to hire a coach to help you refine your style.

“When it comes to coaches, voice acting schools are often great resources to find private coaches,” said Marchewka. She noted that this is a step you should take after doing “some intense initial training” through group classes or workshops and “weekly workouts with other voice actors.”

She recommended leaning on referrals to ensure that you connect with a veteran coach and don’t get swindled. She also reiterated her warning about not producing a demo before you’re ready, which she told us many paid courses have their students do.

“Buyer beware,” she said. “Many schools will add demo production to your course packages. If, by the time you complete the program, you are still not ready to work (and realistically, not many are because they don’t have enough practice under their belt), the demo you have at the end is not useful at all because it will not be competitive enough for you to use.”

She went on to note that even if the demo itself is solid, it won’t help you if you aren’t able to replicate your voiceover delivery in real-world conditions.

“Ongoing training will continue to help with your success,” she said.

Recommended voice acting schools

Marchewka gave us a lengthy list of voice acting schools that she recommends. Note that many host virtual classes as well as in-person lessons, so if you’re not located in the same city as the school, that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker.

• Atlanta Voiceover Studio
• Edge Studio
• Global Voice Acting Academy
• Gravy for the Brain
• Kalmenson & Kalmenson
• On the Mic (Canada)
• Real Voice L.A
• Seattle Voice Academy
• Shut Up & Talk
• Southwest Voices
• Such a Voice
• Tennessee Voiceover Studio
• The Halp Network Entertainment Academy
• The VO Dojo
• The Voice Actors Studio
• VO Bootcamp
• Voicecaster
• VoiceOne
• VoiceTrax

Voiceover workout groups

Marchewka pointed us toward the following four (virtual) workout groups:

• VO Heaven Workouts
• VO Weekly Workout
• Atlanta Voiceover Studio’s Virtual Industry Pro Workouts

She also recommended GingrWorks, a site run by Kathleen Puls Andrade, another experienced voice actor. Her website features both voiceover workouts and courses.

Once you’ve honed your voice acting skills and recorded your demo, you’ll need to actually apply for jobs.

Here are the main places you can do so:

• Dedicated voiceover casting sites: Online casting sites match clients with suitable voice actors. These sites include Voices, Voice123 (the main site that Marchewka uses to find work),  and The Voice Realm. They allow you to create a profile and post a demo, and can be a great way to get auditions. Note that each site operates differently and has different fees, and you’ll be competing against working voice actors for the same jobs.
• Regular job boards: Companies sometimes post calls for voiceover auditions on regular job sites like Indeed. They’ll usually have a script that they’ll ask you to read from when you audition for a voice acting role, and they may ask you to record your sample at home or audition in person.
• Freelance job platforms: You can create an account on a freelancer site like Upwork or Fiverr to apply for freelance voiceover jobs. Unfortunately, most of the jobs on boards like this will be low-paying.
• Agencies: You don’t need an agent to succeed as a voice actor, but if you get one, they can use their knowledge and connections to find and sign you up for auditions. They can also promote you to casting directors and major players at studios and ad agencies.
• Social media: Create social media accounts for your voice acting business and use these to promote and market your services and keep an eye out for new opportunities. On social media platforms, you can follow agencies and advertising companies, join voice acting groups, and search for jobs in your area.

Other sites to create profiles on

It’s also worth looking into (and potentially creating profiles on) the following listing sites:

• Actors Access
• Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX)
• Ahab
• Casting Call Club
• Casting Networks
• Covoco
• Findaway
• The Mandy Network
• PeoplePerHour
• ProZ
• TranslatorsCafe
• The Voice Crew
• VoiceMachine

It’s a good idea to set up accounts on voiceover casting sites so that offers will trickle in while you actively apply for jobs on other platforms.

It can be difficult to break down average rates for the voiceover industry because most voice actors are paid on a per-project basis (instead of making an hourly wage).

Marchewka told us that if a project is non-broadcast (i.e., not for TV, radio, or online ads), the pay is likely to be based on the length of the script. According to Voice’s rates page, the average pay for a script of 300 words or less (equivalent to about 0–2 minutes) is $325. The scale ranges all the way up to $1,500 for a script of 6,000+ words (equivalent to 45–60 minutes).

On the other hand, for broadcast jobs (e.g., advertisements), “the rate is based on where the work will be placed and for how long.” The Global Voice Acting Academy (GVAA) hosts a comprehensive rate guide for different types of voice work intended for broadcast.

Marchewka also noted that some voice acting niches use other payment structures. For instance, she told us that when it comes to animation and video game recording, voice actors usually earn an hourly union wage of around $250 per hour.

As you’d expect, big-name voice actors can command higher rates. In the beginning, when you’re still getting established, you may have to settle for lower pay. For her first gig, Marchewka earned just $25, and she now makes between 10 and 100 times more than that for her voiceover projects.

Average yearly earnings from voice acting

We asked Marchewka about how much most people can reasonably expect to make when they start on a new voice acting side hustle. She pointed us towards the State of Voiceover in 2022 Survey by the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA).

NAVA surveyed 1291 voice actors and found that:

• Over 50% of voice actors make $20,000 or less per year (Marchewka noted that this is “definitely dependent on factors such as how much they work and the type of voice acting they do”)
• About 11% make $20,000–$40,000 per year
• Another 11% make $40,000–$75,000 per year

VOICEOVERVIEW, a business tracking and management program for voice actors, reports that its users have a median income of $3,800–$5,200 per month. This includes voice actors of all kinds, including people doing it as a small, part-time side hustle as well as those who are well-established in the field.

One of the secrets of the voice acting industry that you don’t necessarily need a golden voice to get into it.

There’s no one “sound” that equates to success. In fact, there are many voice actors and voiceover artists who don’t have traditionally great voices. What they have is acting talent, the ability to read something with personality, and perseverance.

If you’re someone who’s always enjoyed reading out loud or experimenting with different voices, a voice acting side hustle might be a great fit. The best way to find out is to download one of the demo scripts we mentioned above and give it a try. If you find you enjoy the work, keep at it.