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Careersβ€ΊRolesβ€ΊStage Manager
Mid-Level

Stage Manager

You're the one who actually runs the show β€” coordinating rehearsals, tracking every cue and prop, and calling the performance live so it happens the same way every night. The calm command center of a production.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
A
E
C
S
I
R
Artisticcreative, expressive
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Stage Managers
ConstructionReal EstateTechnology & Information Β· 63%Entertainment & Media Β· 14%Professional Services Β· 12%Education Β· 4%
Job markets for Stage Managers
Employment concentration Β· ~232 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Arts & Media
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Stage Manager

The work is organization and live execution β€” running rehearsals, keeping detailed records, coordinating cast and crew, and calling cues during the show. Once the curtain's up, you're quietly running everything in real time. Much of the craft is staying calm and on top of a hundred moving parts.

Theater, opera, dance, and live events frame the work, mostly project- or contract-based with intense runs and long, late hours. You're the hub everyone relies on, the pressure peaks at opening, and when something goes wrong onstage, fixing it lands on you. Pay and stability vary a lot by company.

It tends to fit the organized, calm, and detail-obsessed β€” people who like being the dependable center rather than the spotlight. If you crave the stage or hate chaos, the behind-the-scenes pressure may not suit. But if making a complex production run flawlessly is satisfying, the role is essential and quietly powerful.

What people in this role value
IndependenceHigh
RecognitionHigh
AchievementAbove avg
RelationshipsAbove avg
Working ConditionsAbove avg
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial β€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape β€” and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$121K+90%
Energy & Utilities$114K+80%
Professional Services$113K+77%
Financial Services$98K+54%
Wholesale & Distribution$89K+40%
Compared to Arts & Media average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Stage Managers (SOC 27-2012.00), not just this title Β· BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Arts & Media β†’
Stage ManagerProgram AssistantProduction ManagerCasting DirectorAnimation ProducerProducerFilm MakerMedia ManagerMovie ProducerRadio ProducerStage DirectorDigital ProducerCreative DirectorAnimation DirectorBroadcast ProducerExecutive ProducerArt Framing ManagerMorning News ProducerBroadcast News ProducerExecutive News ProducerMoving Picture ProducerMorning Show Newscast Producer
Exploring the Stage Manager career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit β€” and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial β€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape β€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$43K–$199K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
145K
U.S. Employment
+4.9%
10yr Growth
13K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$68K$65K$62K$59K$57K201920202021202220232024$57K$68K
BLS OEWS May 2024 Β· BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningMonitoringReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationWritingManagement of Personnel ResourcesTime Management
O*NET OnLine Β· Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
27-2012.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midProgram Assistant$65KdirectorCommercial Director$128KmidProduction Manager$106KdirectorNewscast Director$83KdirectorProduction Director$83KdirectorArtistic Director$85K
View all Arts & Media roles β†’

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) Β· BLS Employment Projections Β· O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.