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Stunt Performer

Entertainment & Seasonal

You get paid to fall off buildings, get hit by cars, catch on fire, and fight choreographed battles so that famous actors don't have to risk a scratch. The work is dangerous, the hours are brutal, and the credit is invisible — your face is literally replaced by someone else's. But the adrenaline, the precision, and the camaraderie of stunt teams make it addictive.

Salary Range

Low

$30k

Median

$65k

High

$150k

10-Year Growth

average

US Workers

5K

Education

No formal degree — gymnastics, martial arts, and stunt training programs (+ luck)

Environment

both

Tools & Technical Skills

  • Fight choreography and stage combat
  • High fall and wire work rigging
  • Precision driving and vehicle stunts
  • Fire burns (full and partial body)
  • Trampolining, gymnastics, and parkour
  • Safety equipment and pad placement

People & Mindset Skills

  • Fearlessness balanced with risk assessment
  • Physical fitness at elite level
  • Teamwork and trust with coordinators
  • Patience on set
  • Adaptability to director changes

What you'll actually do

  • 01Rehearse fight choreography until it looks real but lands safely every single time
  • 02Fall from heights onto crash pads while cameras roll and the director asks for 'one more take'
  • 03Wear a fire suit and get lit on fire for a 5-second shot that looks incredible and feels insane
  • 04Double for actors whose insurance doesn't let them do anything more dangerous than jogging
  • 05Maintain peak physical condition because your body IS the job and one injury can end it
  • 06Watch the final movie and see the actor's face digitally placed over yours — your invisible contribution

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