7) Drama
Starting salary: $35,800
Mid-career salary: $59,300
Annual online job postings: 21,881
Related job: Actor
Projected 10-year job growth: 10.2%
Meryl Streep has succeeded with her degrees in drama, but you are no Meryl Streep. Sorry. The typical actor earns a median income of about $43,200 a year—with nary an Oscar nomination in sight. And while demand for such players is just a shade below average, competition for every bit part can be fierce. Producers and directors command a higher median income, about $64,600 a year, but just 8.8% more new jobs are expected to be added by 2024.
