Stunt performer
Career outlook for stunt performer
Average UK salary
£58,240
Currently employed in Scotland
2,100
"LMI for All" supplies our salary and employment status information. "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.
What's it like?
You would stand in for actors when the script calls for anything dangerous or specialised to be done on a film or TV set.
To be able to carry out the stunts and make them look natural, you would use highly-developed physical and sporting skills, such as:
- Gymnastics or high diving, for performing all types of falls
- Fighting skills, possibly with weapons
- Swimming or diving
- Horse riding
- Advanced driving techniques, for performing car chases and crashes
It would be your job to set up and plan stunts as well as perform them, usually under the supervision of a stunt coordinator. Every detail of the stunt would need to be planned with the production staff. This is so you could make sure that it is safe to perform and disrupts filming as little as possible.
Health and safety would be very important as the work could be dangerous. You would need to carry out a full risk assessment and complete detailed paperwork before you perform each stunt.
Working conditions
Hours
Environment
Travel
UK employment status
Full-time
18%
Part-time
12%
Self employed
71%
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- Adaptability
- Resilience
- Researching
- Attention to detail
- Risk taking
- Self esteem
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Qualifications
You do not need formal qualifications, though it is usual to have some experience of working on a TV or film set as an extra or walk-on actor.
Useful subjects
- English
- Maths
- Physical subjects such as physical education, dance and drama
You will also need
To get work you must be on the Joint Industry Stunt Committee (JISC) Register of Stunt/Action Co-ordinators and Performers.
To gain JISC accreditation you must have proven skill levels and at one year’s experience in six or more sporting categories as listed by JISC. There are eleven categories in total, which belong to five different groups. Each group relates to a specific area of skills — for example, fighting, falling and water ability.
You must also have completed 60 days work in front of a camera, but this must not be stunt work.
Once you are accepted on to the JISC register you must work for at least three years as a Probationary Member, working only under the supervision of a full member of the Register.
- High levels of skill in all the sports you offer
- Good acting skills to work as a stunt double
- A member of Equity
- Be at least 18 years old
Helpful to have
Qualifications and experience that:
- show physical and mental strength such as Skills for Work Uniformed Services (SCQF level 4)
- give you an understanding of the industry such as Skills for Work Creative Industries (SCFQ level 5)