Magician / Illusionist
🎩Performs magic: card and coin sleight of hand, mentalism and stage illusions at parties, shows, corporate events and online.
Prospects & pay
What the work is like
💼 Job market
🇺🇸 $78.4k a year on average · +4.7% jobs by 2035 · 4,500 openings a year
Entertainers & performers, sports & related workers, all other — US: Census ACS 2020–24 (full-time), BLS projections 2025–35
🤖 AI & automation
AI can't do close-up magic; live astonishment in the room remains a human craft.
Who it suits
Interests: 🎭 Music, theatre, dance, 🔧 Making things by hand, 🧠 Psychology.
Key strengths: manual dexterity, understanding people, artistic taste.
Where to study
- Course Self-study, magic clubs and societies (e.g. The Magic Circle, IBM, SAM)
- Course Performing at events, cruise ships and festivals to build a show
Key school subjects (A-level / IB / AP): Drama.
🧗 Self-study, magic clubs and societies (The Magic Circle in the UK, IBM and SAM in the US) and years of private gigs. Top illusionists in Las Vegas and on TV earn a great deal.
Things to know
🎤 Public speaking, being on camera🧳 Frequent work trips🌙 Night shifts and on-call
Similar careers
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