7 Best Side Jobs for Actors

Technically, voiceover work is a type of acting, but it’s a niche that many artists overlook if they’re used to performing on stage or in front of a camera. Popular types of voice acting include narrating audiobooks, narrating commercials, and playing the voice of characters in animated films or shows.

Unlike screen or stage actors—who rely on their facial expressions, hand gestures, wardrobe, and other visual elements to portray a character—voice actors use vocal techniques to bring characters to life, captivate listeners, or set a scene.

Potential earnings: $250–$749 for a 350–749 word script for a nonbroadcast gig (approximately 3 to 4 minutes). 1

Why it’s a good side hustle for actors

The voice is an important but often overlooked acting tool. Regardless of the type of acting you do as your main gig (unless you only work in silent media), you’ll benefit from training your vocal acting skills.

“It’s an excellent way to strengthen your voice as an actor and collaborate with other industry pros,” Ramos told us. He tried voice acting himself, and he said it only ever involved 1–2 hours of work at a time, leaving him plenty of wiggle room to pursue other acting opportunities. Plus, he got paid $200–$250 per session.

That’s not to say that voiceover work is easy. While there are plenty of actors who have what it takes, bear in mind that voice acting is a unique profession that requires a special skill set—much the same way that acting in a play differs from acting in a film in terms of the skills and training required. On top of that, Ramos says it’s gradually becoming just as difficult to land voice acting jobs as TV/film acting jobs.

How to get started

If you want to become a voice actor, you need to record a solid demo, which will serve as your resume. You can find jobs on social media, regular job boards, or voiceover casting sites.

Here are a few good websites for finding voiceover work:

• Voice123
• Voices
• The Voice Realm

As a working actor, your experience on stage, on set, and behind the scenes is incredibly valuable. Aspiring actors who are still learning or trying to get their foot in the door are often willing to pay good money to get training and advice from an insider who’s already well acquainted with the acting industry.

You can either provide one-on-one sessions or host acting workshops where you teach a group of students. Your students could by at any age or skill level, from small children to college students or even seniors.

This acting side gig offers plenty of options. You can teach the technical aspects of theater or television acting, run improv classes, or offer specialized coaching (e.g., accents or acting methods). In any case, your job will involve helping novice actors develop the skills, knowledge, and techniques needed to succeed in acting.

Potential earnings: $25–$180 per hour.

Why it’s a good side hustle for actors

One of the biggest advantages to becoming an acting coach is that it’s a very flexible job for actors since you have the freedom to set your own schedule. On top of that, actor coaching offers pretty high earning potential compared to many other typical actor side jobs.

Ramos is a professional acting coach, and he says coaching is one of his favorite side hustles. “My coaching business is a great way to make a steady income and takes the pressure off making a living solely from acting gigs,” he said.

Teaching acting classes offers its own unique benefits as a side hustle for actors. “You get to set your hours, so flexibility is great when it comes to auditioning. Another huge plus is that you’re constantly reinforcing the craft of acting to your students,” Ramos said. “That sharpens your tools as well.”

How to get started

Actor coaching is a popular side business for actors, and most attract new clients through digital means (e.g., their own website, social media, or business pages online) and word-of-mouth referrals. In this case, you’ll need to find ways to advertise your services to other actors. Good first steps include building a website, attending industry events, and seizing networking opportunities at casting calls and during acting gigs.

For Ramos, all it took was attracting attention to himself as an actor. Once he started blogging about his acting experience, people began asking him for coaching. He committed to an acting coach side hustle in 2018 and ended up cultivating a thriving business.

If you’re leaning more toward teaching acting classes than offering one-on-one coaching, then a good place to start your job search is local theaters. You can also tutor online using platforms like Preply or UpskillsTutor. Teaching in public schools isn’t an option unless you have a teaching license.

Most models advertise a variety of products for different companies. They pose with these products and showcase them on runways and billboards or in magazines, TV commercials, or other types of media.

That said, not all modeling work is commercial. Some models pose for painters, sculptors, or photographers solely for artistic purposes, while others model backstage for fashion designers so they can achieve a certain fit and look for their products.

Potential earnings: $13–$75 per hour. 2

Why it’s a good side hustle for actors

As an actor, you’re probably already comfortable being in front of a crowd or cameras. This familiarity with the work setup and environment will allow you to easily transition into modeling.

According to Ramos, modeling can help you expand your network and build up your portfolio while making you money. “This job also prepares actors for long days and creative output,” he added. Many well-known actors actually started off as models, including Channing Tatum, Jennifer Lawrence, and Ashton Kutcher.

How to get started

The first thing you need to do is decide what niche you want to pursue. Fashion modeling, fitness modeling, commercial modeling, and hand modeling are a few popular options. Next, you’ll need to create a portfolio that showcases your style and range.

Don’t forget to build a strong online presence, as social media is a powerful tool to self-promote and expand your network. Lastly, regularly browse social media groups, modeling websites, and job boards for casting calls.

Don’t be fooled—with this side gig, you won’t be involved in the creative or acting elements of theater productions. Rather, a theater assistant’s responsibilities largely revolve around customer service.

Here are roles you’ll likely be expected to take on:

• Cashier
• Usher
• Ticket agent
• Concession worker
• Customer care specialist
• Cleaner

Potential earnings: $8–$31 per hour. 3

Why it’s a good side hustle for actors

Working as a theater usher or assistant is a flexible job, and it gets you close to the action on stage. Ramos thinks it’s a good side hustle for actors because you not only get early access to the latest productions—you may also get invites to exclusive events with industry professionals.

Unlike some other side hustles for actors, this job option won’t directly benefit your acting abilities. But if you’re lucky, you might get to watch a free show every now and then or even meet the actors, directors, and producers of different shows.

How to get started

The quickest way to find a job as a theater assistant is to search for box office assistant or ushering jobs in theaters on general online job boards. You can also stop by your local theater to ask if they have any job openings.

If you love watching TV, you’ll be pleased to learn that you can get paid to watch them in person as a TV audience member. In this role, you’ll be told what to do and how to react. You may also be asked to sign a nondisclosure agreement or adhere to a dress code.

This option will be best suited to actors who are already living in major film and television hotspots, since these are the locations with the most opportunities. In particular, it’s a good side hustle in Los Angeles or New York.

Potential earnings: $14–$29 per hour. 4

Why it’s a good side hustle for actors

This is a fairly easy job that almost anyone can do. All you have to do is follow basic instructions, such as clapping and laughing. All the while, you’ll get to enjoy a free show.

Ramos tried out this acting side hustle, and he said got paid $40–$100 per day. One downside, though, is that some shows are filmed during the week and on weekends. “This sometimes interfered with auditions,” he said.

From a career-development perspective, Ramos notes that you’ll get a “behind-the-scenes look into set etiquette,” not to mention an inside look into television production and a relevant job to add to your actor resume. He says you’ll often also get the chance to build industry connections with other aspiring actors.

How to get started

To get a job as a TV audience member, one option is to search for relevant casting calls. Good places to look include target job sites like Standing Room Only.

Alternatively, you can register with an audience casting company. The company will then send you local job opportunities.

If you’re an actor who’s been in the game for a while or who has a lot of acting experience, you could be a huge help to casting directors and agencies. By taking a freelance or part-time job as a casting assistant, you can get paid to be part of the action, handling general tasks for casting directors across a variety of productions.

Here are some of the duties you can expect to have as a casting assistant:

• Read scripts
• Scout suitable actors
• Call agents to check an actor’s availability
• Coordinate auditions
• Send scripts to actors
• Film auditions
• Handle various administrative tasks

Potential earnings: $5–$16 per hour. 5

Why it’s a good side hustle for actors

Working with a casting team will give you the opportunity to learn about behind-the-scenes operations, expand your network, and get firsthand information on upcoming productions.

Ramos has worked as a casting assistant, and he said it helped his acting career immensely. “There aren’t many opportunities as eye-opening and valuable to an actor than being able to watch other actors audition and to hear feedback from casting directors,” he said.

Another obvious advantage is that working as a casting assistant could open the door to new acting roles. “I suppose an actor may be able to transition from assistant to audition for a role as well. Then it becomes a very good side hustle!” Ramos added.

Many casting assistant jobs are for interns, freelancers, or part-time workers, which means they may offer the scheduling flexibility needed for working actors. However, Ramos pointed out that most casting is done during the week, so the job may interfere with your own auditions.

How to get started

Aside from searching and applying for jobs on online job boards, ask around in your network about potential job openings. You can even inquire about casting assistant opportunities after hearing back from casting calls.

If you have other specialties (e.g., you’re good with numbers or technology), consider using those skills to get a job at a production company or a talent agency. For instance, bookkeeping, accountancy, IT services, and production assistance can all be good full-time or part-time jobs for actors.

Potential earnings: Varies depending on the role.

Why it’s a good side hustle for actors

Although working at a production company or talent agency won’t give you direct experience performing, you still get to connect with other professionals. According to Ramos, these are good jobs for actors because they offer an inside look into the industry.

Compared with other side hustles for actors, Ramos warned that these types of positions require more tact when it comes to pursuing your own acting career. They also often involve working during the week, which may interfere with auditions. On the plus side, however, he noted that you can sometimes progress from an hourly to salaried contract.

How to get started

Create a tailored resume that highlights your skills and experience related to the job you want to apply for. In addition to searching for jobs on online job boards, it’s a good idea to contact individual agencies directly. You can search for vacancies on the careers page of their website or send them an email with a cover letter and your resume.

As an actor, choosing a related side hustle is a smart choice, but there are also good reasons to pick other ideas beyond your calling.