What Does it Take to Be a Talent Director?
Job Description: Audition and interview performers to select most appropriate talent for parts in stage, television, radio, or motion picture productions.
Life As a Talent Director: What Do They Do?
- Attend or view productions to maintain knowledge of available actors.
- Arrange for or design screen tests or auditions for prospective performers.
- Hire and supervise workers who help locate people with specified attributes and talents.
- Prepare actors for auditions by providing scripts and information about roles and casting requirements.
- Locate performers or extras for crowd and background scenes, and stand-ins or photo doubles for actors, by direct contact or through agents.
- Review performer information, such as photos, resumes, voice tapes, videos, and union membership, to decide whom to audition for parts.
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What a Talent Director Should Know
When polled, Talent Directors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Related Job Titles
- Casting Associate
- Pageant Director
- Contestant Coordinator
- Entertainment Agent
- Talent Associate
Talent Director Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 134,700 jobs for Talent Director in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,500 new jobs for Talent Director by 2026. There will be an estimated 14,100 positions for Talent Director per year.

The states with the most job growth for Talent Director are Utah, Georgia, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Talent Director
The average yearly salary of a Talent Director ranges between $34,450 and $163,540.

Talent Directors who work in California, New York, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Talent Directors make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $57,040 |
Alaska | $61,280 |
Arizona | $62,760 |
Arkansas | $58,750 |
California | $115,080 |
Colorado | $68,290 |
Connecticut | $84,900 |
Delaware | $59,680 |
District of Columbia | $89,390 |
Florida | $70,630 |
Georgia | $84,570 |
Hawaii | $73,200 |
Idaho | $55,600 |
Illinois | $77,960 |
Indiana | $48,300 |
Iowa | $46,610 |
Kansas | $56,680 |
Kentucky | $60,530 |
Louisiana | $56,290 |
Maine | $51,310 |
Maryland | $78,760 |
Massachusetts | $70,480 |
Michigan | $65,910 |
Minnesota | $73,110 |
Mississippi | $44,310 |
Missouri | $65,560 |
Montana | $51,920 |
Nebraska | $51,620 |
Nevada | $67,190 |
New Hampshire | $59,830 |
New Jersey | $92,180 |
New Mexico | $75,110 |
New York | $115,610 |
North Carolina | $73,980 |
North Dakota | $42,570 |
Ohio | $60,590 |
Oklahoma | $55,670 |
Oregon | $68,280 |
Pennsylvania | $76,050 |
Rhode Island | $65,660 |
South Carolina | $57,200 |
South Dakota | $55,930 |
Tennessee | $65,040 |
Texas | $69,280 |
Utah | $67,800 |
Vermont | $58,760 |
Virginia | $69,750 |
Washington | $71,430 |
Wisconsin | $57,110 |
Wyoming | $45,930 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Talent Directors
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Talent Directors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Microsoft Windows
- Database software
- Linux
- UNIX
- SAP software
- Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Microsoft operating system
- Appointment scheduling software
- Blogging software
- Website development software
How do I Become a Talent Director?
Education needed to be a Talent Director:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Talent Director?

Where Talent Directors Are Employed

The table below shows the approximate number of Talent Directors employed by various industries.

References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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