Go over the script
Discuss the script with creative staff, then describe the part, like a musical actor who plays an instrument.
Career profile
Casting Director
Casting directors find actors who make the characters in a script feel real and believable.
Watch auditions, compare actors side by side and help directors cast each role. The best part is explaining why one actor's take fits the story.
A day in the life
Book the audition slots
Confirm actors are free, send them scene pages and book audition times that fit the creative team too.
Take notes during the audition
Listen, jot down how the actor approaches the character, then measure that against what the part needs.
Present your short list
Make a short list and show the producers and director chosen clips with reasons for each one.
Negotiate the actor's contract
Work out contract terms with the actor's agent and settle any remaining details with the production.
Quick facts
Start in a casting office
United States
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Pay depends on the production and contract.
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Casting work spans stage and screen productions.
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Start in a casting officeCasting assistant work is a common entry route; organization and people skills matter from the beginning.
Pay
Not displayedPay depends on the production and contract.
Outlook
Not displayedCasting work spans stage and screen productions.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You enjoy explaining what makes a performance convincing.
- You can keep names, appointments, and files organized while people interrupt you.
- You like discussing creative choices without needing everyone to share your first opinion.
Things to weigh
- A substantial part of the work is email, scheduling, and audition-file handling.
- You may advocate for an actor and still see the production choose someone else.
Where AI may help
Audition platforms organize clips by role, control who can view them, and collect comments from collaborators.
What people still lead
You judge performances and explain how your choices serve the production.
What we can’t predict yet
How much software will take over the first pass through submissions remains uncertain, especially when an unexpected performance changes your idea of a role.
Pay in context
Earnings
A weekly contract rate needs context: which production it covers and how long the engagement lasts.
A union television benchmark
As of October 3, 2026, the Teamsters agreement sets a $4,680 weekly minimum for covered freelance casting directors on subsequent episodes of single-camera series. Coverage includes qualifying work in, or hired from, New York City and Los Angeles County. For a casting-director team, the minimum applies to the team together. This is a contract floor, not typical annual income.
Film contracts work differently
The same agreement leaves theatrical-film casting-director salaries to individual negotiation. A television minimum does not establish what a film job pays.
Getting started
Join a casting office as an assistant
- What the route involves
- Answer messages, organize actor submissions, prepare audition materials, and help the casting director run sessions.
- What it can lead to
- You learn the office workflow and how audition material reaches the people making casting decisions.
Combine college study with a casting internship
A semester in New York City within a college program.Part of a program
- What the route involves
- A program such as Syracuse University's Tepper Semester combines a casting internship with classes on casting and theatre analysis.
- What it can lead to
- You gain practical experience and a clearer understanding of professional casting before seeking office work.
- What to check
- This program is for eligible college drama students, including applicants from other universities; it is not a direct high-school entry route.
The usual first job is casting assistant. You learn how auditions run before taking responsibility for casting choices.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Become dependable in the office
Keep audition materials, sign-in records, and video uploads accurate so the session runs smoothly.
Take on associate responsibilities
Build actor lists, run audition sessions, and develop experience negotiating actor deals.
Lead casting or oversee a department
Build toward leading a project's casting as a casting director.
- Studio or network casting leadership can involve overseeing other casting personnel.
Where you can work
Film and television casting offices
Recorded auditions let directors, producers, and executives review candidates separately. You organize clips and keep their feedback connected to the right role.
- Indoors
- Office
Theatre casting offices
Auditions may need a rehearsal room, someone to read opposite actors, and a pianist. For musicals, you also consider how performers' acting and musical skills fit the ensemble.
- Indoors
- Office
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Choose a character from a play you have read. Write a short role description, then suggest two actors whose publicly available performances you know. Explain what each could bring and choose a scene you would use to compare them. Notice whether you enjoy making a case beyond simply liking an actor.
Stay safe: Keep this a private mock exercise; do not contact actors or advertise an audition.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Talent Directors — 27-2012.04. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Casting Society. FAQs — How do I get into casting?. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Roundabout Theatre Company. Violet Upstage Guide — Staff Spotlight: Senior Casting Director Carrie Gardner. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Cast It. Cast It Pro Functionality. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Teamsters Local 399. 2024–2027 Casting Directors Memorandum of Agreement. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Syracuse University. Tepper Semester. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Syracuse University. Tepper Semester Curriculum — Casting. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Casting Society. Membership Requirements. Accessed 2026-10-04.