What It’s Like Being a Professional Voice Actor: Work, Training, and Pay
When most people think of voice acting, they imagine movie trailers or cartoon characters. But the world of professional voice acting is much broader, covering everything from commercials to video games to audiobooks. For many, it’s a creative and flexible career, but also one that requires persistence, training, and a thick skin.
A Day in the Life of a Voice Actor
Being a voice actor often means running your own small business. Most professionals:
Record auditions daily (sometimes dozens per week).
Maintain a home studio with professional microphones, soundproofing, and editing software.
Work with clients across time zones, delivering files via online platforms.
Juggle marketing, invoicing, and relationship management alongside creative work.
Unlike traditional acting, most voice actors don’t go to casting calls. Instead, they submit recordings from their home studios and wait for callbacks or bookings.
How Do Voice Actors Find Work?
Voice actors can find gigs in several ways:
Online casting platforms
Websites like Voices.com, Voice123, and Bodalgo allow actors to audition for projects directly.
ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) connects narrators with authors and publishers looking for audiobook talent.
Agents
Many pros eventually sign with agents who pitch them for higher-paying commercial, film, and TV work.
Direct marketing & networking
Voice actors often build relationships with ad agencies, production houses, and game studios.
Referrals are a major source of repeat work.
Freelance platforms
Some voice actors get started on sites like Fiverr or Upwork, though rates are often lower.
Types of Gigs Voice Actors Land
The range of work is huge, including:
Commercials (TV, radio, online ads)
Audiobooks (fiction, nonfiction, memoirs)
Video games (character voices, sound effects, cutscenes)
Animation & dubbing (cartoons, anime, foreign film localization)
Corporate narration (e-learning, explainer videos, training modules)
Promos & trailers (TV networks, streaming platforms)
IVR / telephony (voicemail systems, automated prompts)
Podcast intros/outros & branded audio
Some voice actors specialize, while others diversify across multiple categories.
How Much Do Voice Actors Earn?
Earnings vary dramatically based on experience, market, and project type. Here are ballpark figures:
Commercials: $250 – $500 for local radio/TV; thousands for national campaigns.
Audiobooks: Typically, $200 – $400 per finished hour (PFH). A 10-hour book might earn $2,000 – $4,000.
Video games & animation: $200 – $500 per hour session (union rates are higher).
Corporate/e-learning: $150 – $400 per finished hour.
Freelance / online platforms: Entry-level gigs can pay as little as $50 – $100 for short projects.
Top-tier professionals (with agents and union membership) can earn six figures annually. Most newcomers, however, build gradually, it can take years to reach steady income.
Where Do Voice Actors Get Training?
Voice acting requires both performance skills and technical know-how.
Acting classes: Many voice actors start with theater or improv training.
Voice-over coaches: Specialized coaches help refine delivery, pacing, accents, and character work.
Workshops & online courses: Platforms like Gravy for the Brain, Edge Studio, and Global Voice Acting Academy offer structured programs.
Practice in a home studio: Learning mic technique, audio editing, and recording workflow is essential.
Unionized voice actors (e.g. members of SAG-AFTRA) also benefit from industry standards, workshops, and community networking.
The rewards:
Creative freedom and variety.
Flexibility to work from anywhere.
The joy of hearing your voice in media consumed by millions.
The challenges:
High competition, thousands of actors audition for the same roles.
Income instability, especially early on.
Continuous need for marketing, training, and reinvestment in equipment.
Being a professional voice actor is equal parts art and entrepreneurship. Success depends on honing performance skills, mastering technology, and building long-term relationships with clients. While only a small fraction earn blockbuster incomes, many carve out sustainable careers by diversifying across audiobooks, commercials, games, and corporate narration.
If you’re considering this path, the best advice is simple: train like an actor, think like a business owner, and be ready to audition constantly.