What is a Talent Director?
Job Description: Audition and interview performers to select most appropriate talent for parts in stage, television, radio, or motion picture productions.
A Day in the Life of a Talent Director
- Serve as liaisons between directors, actors, and agents.
- Prepare actors for auditions by providing scripts and information about roles and casting requirements.
- Maintain talent files that include information such as performers' specialties, past performances, and availability.
- Audition and interview performers to match their attributes to specific roles or to increase the pool of available acting talent.
- Select performers for roles or submit lists of suitable performers to producers or directors for final selection.
- Read scripts and confer with producers to determine the types and numbers of performers required for a given production.
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Talent Director Needed Skills
Talent Directors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Types of Talent Director Jobs
- Casting Associate
- Artistic Director
- Talent Associate
- Casting Agent
- Entertainment Agent
Job Outlook for Talent Directors
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 134,700 jobs in the United States for Talent Director. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 14,100 job openings in this field each 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.
How Much Does a Talent Director Make?
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.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Talent Directors in different U.S. states.
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
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Talent Directors:
- 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
Becoming 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 some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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