VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

craigcrumpton · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:20 pm Post subject: How Much Do Voice Actors Earn?

Following an article from CNN that listed voice acting among 10 "cool jobs", I ended up doing a blog post when the source cited in the article estimated annual earnings for a voice actor at $47k, although other figures came up in related search results as I mentioned on my blog.

I certainly don't mean to pry into what you guys earn, but I am curious to know if these estimates are anywhere close to being accurate.

I get most of my work doing live events, so VO represents maybe 2% of my annual income because I don't pursue it actively.
_________________
Publisher: Voice Actors in the News
Host: Viva VO Atlanta! (on VU and Facebook for VO peeps in the Southeast US)

Philip Banks · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:32 pm Post subject:

Not really sure but certainly over $1/3million. Don't do nuthin else, jes' read out loud.

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

It'd be a bad year if I was under $47K, but it has happened a few times over the past decade. My income is all over the place (and on-camera is about 25% of my total). I broke six figures once, but the year after 9/11 did not break 40K.

Whatever figure you want to use depends on how you define "voice talent." If you define it as anyone who makes a demo and markets themselves as a voice talent, then I seriously doubt if more than 1 or 2% make as much or more than $47K. If your definition is "someone who ONLY works as a voice talent," perhaps that figure is more realistic.

I have seen stats that say that the percentage of SAG actors making more than a poverty income (say, $8K a year) is shockingly low, perhaps 5%. Others may know more... Perhaps you can create a poll here. It would be quite unscientific, but might add to your discussion - if one can reply anonymously!

Hope this helps!
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

Frank F · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:38 pm Post subject:

As a "voice actor" only, I am in the top 2% of income earners according to AFTRA.

However, AFTRA says most (85%) VO union people earn less than $4k/yr. Only 10% earn more than $50k. And around 2% earn more than $100k.

I believe the figures in the CNN article are very skewed. I trust the media "reporters" about as far as I can throw them. Reality check here shows that Phillip Banks (Banksey) put out a figure last year of $75,000.00 to be top income earner in the industry. I know of several people on this board that are nearing that level or have a goal to reach that level this year.

As an aside, the average income earned from the P2P sites shows that MOST of the people involved earn much less than $4k/yr. from the online audition sites.

The VO-BB is a very diverse cross section of the industry with most people earning a large portion of their income from VO only. If you are not aware, many of the people on this board also think of VO as their job, market well, and are great talent. (I don't fit in with the "many" part of my sentence. I am in the "other" category.)

As CNN stated - VO is a "cool" gig, but as I have said many times - this is a business. Each of need to work our passion as a business if we want to succeed.

Toodles

F2
_________________
Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

bobsouer · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:11 pm Post subject:

I've not read the article, but from voiceover work alone last year I did considerably better than $47K. (Had I not, I wouldn't be leaving my day job on Friday.)
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

Deirdre · Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:32 am Post subject:

That $47K figure is about right for Camp Cooper for the VO portion.

I made nearly as much money with Web Design as I did as a staff announcer for the biggest player in a major radio market. I'm not sure which demands more hours, but it sure gives you an idea about the perceived value of commercial reading for radio.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

Eric_Hu · Guest

I'd imagine that the numbers can be skewed(a lot). Does that figure factor in part timers?

I'm also thinking that there can be huge differences between a higher earner vs a lower earner, so the amount of people sampled can make a difference. LAstly, you might be better off using "mean" and median" figures because "average" doesn't really show the big picture. For example, could you see what the average number would look like with 99 newbies and Don LaFontaine in one group?

Eric >just sayin

COURVO · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 2:57 am Post subject:

Bob,

You're leaving your day job at the BGEA?...today?

CourVO
_________________
Dave Courvoisier - Las Vegas, NV
http://www.CourVO.com
CourVO@CourVO.com
Courvo's "Voice Acting in Vegas" Blog: http://www.CourVO.biz
on your phone at courvo.mobi
702.610.6288
"I'm not a news anchor, but I play one on TV."

bobsouer · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 4:18 am Post subject:

Dave,

Yes, today is my last day. I posted a thread about this the day I gave my notice a month ago.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Bob,

As an experienced full-time good-for-nothing work-out-of-the-house freelancer for almost 3 years, here are a few important thoughts:

"The View" is at 10AM
"Rachel Ray" is at Noon
"Dr. Phil" is at 3PM....
...this leaves plenty of time for napping and an occasional audition

cool

bobsouer · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 6:37 am Post subject:

Rob,

Thank you. Laugh

_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

Diane Havens · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:52 am Post subject:

Yes, I agree "averages" are meaningless for this purpose. In any freelance field how much you earn depends upon so many factors, including the answer to the first:

How much do you need to/want to earn at it?
_________________
Diane

Veni, Vidi, Voci
http://www.dianehavens.com

Moe Egan · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:49 am Post subject:

Good point Diane.

By AFTRA's definition I'm in the top 10%. If I did any marketing, cold calling, auditioning when I don't feel like it, update my website, computerize my contact list, send out post cards, follow up on old clients I haven't heard from in a while, read blogs and books about the industry on a weekly basis, do my voice exercises daily, stop smoking, get more rest and treat it like a real job, I could easily be in the top 2%.

But I make a decent living wage (as a single parent), and I have time to build pirate ships in my garage when the high school band needs one, pick my kids up at school daily, make dinner from scratch every night and do the stuff I deem important.

You need to define your own success in this biz....and for many of us it ain't what's on your tax return that counts.
_________________
Moe Egan
i want to be the voice in your head.
~~~~~

Philip Banks · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 11:37 am Post subject:

It's the spin we put on things. Truth is that what I earn and what YOU earn ain't nobody's bidnizz ceptin' yours.

Today somebody paid me to do what I like doing, no one really cares about that except me. If you do what I do I hope you got to do it today too, fer cash!