Acting requires persistence, talent, and hard work. Actors spend a lot of time waiting to audition and to hear about parts. Actors sometimes travel extensively. They work in heat from the lights. When on location, they work in varied weather conditions.
Many actors face long periods of unemployment and low wages during their first years.
They also must cope with frequent rejection. Actors may belong to one of many unions. Stage actors and screen actors have their own unions, as do television and radio performers. Wages vary widely according to talent, training, experience and reputation. National Wages Wages vary by the area of the country, the actor's experience, and the employer.