Professional Voiceover Artist Job Description [Updated for 2025]

In today’s multimedia-driven world, the demand for professional voiceover artists is more pronounced than ever.
As communication diversifies, the call for skilled individuals who can breathe life into scripts, enhance storytelling, and engage audiences increases.
But let’s delve deeper: What is truly expected from a professional voiceover artist?
Whether you are:
- A job seeker trying to grasp the nuances of this role,
- A hiring manager crafting the perfect candidate profile,
- Or simply fascinated by the intricate world of voiceover artistry,
You’re in the right place.
Today, we present a customizable professional voiceover artist job description template, designed for effortless posting on job boards or career sites.
Let’s dive right in.
Professional Voiceover Artist Duties and Responsibilities
Professional Voiceover Artists provide voices for characters, provide narration, or voice advertising for a variety of media including television, film, radio, and video games.
They are primarily responsible for interpreting scripts, conveying characters and situations, and delivering clear, audible messages.
Their duties and responsibilities include:
- Reading, interpreting, and understanding scripts given by clients and producers
- Using voice modulation techniques to create different voices, accents, and emotions
- Recording voiceovers in a professional studio or with professional equipment at home
- Working closely with directors and producers to achieve the desired voice for a particular character or narration
- Editing and mastering audio recordings to ensure they meet the standards of quality and consistency
- Attending auditions and callbacks for voiceover work
- Maintaining vocal health and good general health to ensure voice quality
- Marketing and promoting their voice talents to attract potential clients
- Keeping abreast of industry trends, technologies and performing arts to hone their skills
Professional Voiceover Artist Job Description Template
Job Brief
We are looking for a talented and experienced Professional Voiceover Artist to join our creative team.
The Voiceover Artist will be responsible for reading provided scripts, understanding character briefs, and lending their voice to our projects.
The successful candidate should be capable of portraying different characters, accents, and emotions with their voice.
Prior experience in a similar role will be advantageous.
Responsibilities
- Interpreting voiceover scripts and acting as characters accordingly
- Delivering narrations with clear, concise, and accurate speech
- Understanding and conveying the emotion, tone, and mood of scripts
- Recording voiceovers for various mediums like commercials, movies, animations, and more
- Ensuring the quality of final recordings before delivery
- Collaborating with producers, directors, and sound engineers
- Improving voiceover delivery with appropriate training and practice
- Maintaining good vocal health and quality
Qualifications
- Previous experience as a Voiceover Artist or similar role
- Extensive portfolio of voiceover work
- Excellent speech clarity, modulation, and a confident and versatile vocal style
- Ability to do various accents and voice styles
- Ability to follow direction and adapt to changes in script and project requirements
- Good understanding of voiceover recording equipment and software
- Formal education in Acting, Communication, or related field is an advantage
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development opportunities
- Opportunity to work on diverse projects
Additional Information
- Job Title: Professional Voiceover Artist
- Work Environment: This role may be performed remotely or in a studio, depending on project requirements. It may require flexible work hours due to time zone differences with clients and project deadlines.
- Reporting Structure: Reports to the Creative Director or Project Lead.
- Salary: Salary is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.
- Pay Range: Varies significantly based on project type and duration, experience, and qualifications.
- Location: [City, State] (specify the location or indicate if remote)
- Employment Type: This role can be full-time, part-time or on a contract basis, depending on the candidate’s preference and project requirements.
- Equal Opportunity Statement: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
- Application Instructions: Please submit your resume, a cover letter, and a voiceover demo reel to [email address or application portal].
What Does a Professional Voiceover Artist Do?
Professional Voiceover Artists lend their voices to bring characters and narratives to life across a wide range of media including television programs, movies, commercials, video games, and audiobooks.
They can also work in radio broadcasting, documentaries, e-learning, and public announcements.
Their role involves interpreting scripts, adapting their voice to different characters or narratives, and using their vocal skills to engage and captivate the audience.
Voiceover Artists may be asked to provide different accents, emotions, tones, or even sound effects in order to suit the requirements of the project.
In addition, they are usually involved in the post-production process, where they may be asked to correct or redo certain parts of the recording to ensure it matches the desired outcome.
Many Professional Voiceover Artists work as freelancers, providing services to various clients, while others may be employed by advertising agencies, production houses, or radio stations.
They often work with directors and producers, who provide them with guidance and feedback about their performance.
In some cases, they may also be required to participate in rehearsals or workshops to better understand the character or context they are voicing for.
To ensure high-quality recordings, a Professional Voiceover Artist may need to invest in and maintain a personal recording studio with professional-grade equipment.
This also includes the knowledge to utilize audio editing software for clean and high-quality voice recordings.
Professional Voiceover Artist Qualifications and Skills
A professional voiceover artist should possess a unique set of skills and qualifications, such as:
- Exceptional vocal skills, with the ability to alter their voice to portray various characters, emotions, and accents.
- A strong understanding of pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary in one or more languages.
- Excellent reading skills with the ability to read scripts fluently and accurately.
- Technical knowledge and proficiency in using audio recording equipment and software.
- Interpersonal skills to work effectively with clients, sound engineers, producers and other stakeholders.
- Communication skills to comprehend and interpret scripts, as well as to provide feedback and receive direction.
- A keen sense of timing and pace, critical in syncing voiceovers with visuals.
- Resilience and persistence, as the industry can be highly competitive and require numerous audition attempts before landing a role.
- Ability to take care of their voice through proper diet, exercise, and other health practices.
Professional Voiceover Artist Experience Requirements
A professional voiceover artist often starts their journey with a strong passion for performance and a natural ability to manipulate their voice.
However, professional training, either through an acting school or voice coaching, is instrumental in honing the technical aspects of the craft.
Many voiceover artists begin gaining practical experience through part-time work, independent projects, or internships during their training.
This experience is often crucial in building a professional portfolio which can be showcased to potential employers.
Those with 1 to 3 years of experience have likely worked in various settings, such as radio broadcasting, television commercials, animations, or audiobooks.
This diverse experience is important as it exposes the voiceover artist to different voiceover techniques and styles.
Professional voiceover artists with over 3 years of experience have usually developed a specialized skill set, for example, character voices for animated films or a specific accent for regional advertising.
They may also have experience with different types of voiceover work such as dubbing, voice acting, or narration.
Those with more than 5 years of experience are often veterans in the industry, with a wide range of voiceover work under their belt.
They might have also gained some experience in directing or producing voiceover projects.
This experience can make them ideal candidates for mentoring aspiring voiceover artists or leading voiceover teams in larger projects.
Professional Voiceover Artist Education and Training Requirements
Professional Voiceover Artists typically do not need a formal education, but having a bachelor’s degree in areas such as drama, performing arts, or broadcasting can be useful.
Training in voice, speech, and acting is an essential foundation for this career.
This can be gained through degree programs, acting workshops, or vocal coaching sessions.
Knowledge in foreign languages or accents can also be beneficial, as it broadens the range of roles the artist can perform.
Familiarity with audio recording equipment and software is also essential, as many Voiceover Artists may need to record their work from home studios.
Some Voiceover Artists may choose to pursue certification programs offered by various acting guilds or voice acting schools, which provide specific training in voiceover techniques and help artists build a demo reel for potential job opportunities.
Continued learning and practicing are crucial in this field, as trends in voiceover work can frequently change.
Artists must maintain their vocal health and continue to develop their skills and versatility.
Experience, talent, and a unique voice often weigh more heavily than formal education in this field.
However, continuous training and practice can enhance these inherent skills and increase an artist’s employability.
Professional Voiceover Artist Salary Expectations
A Professional Voiceover Artist earns an average salary of $76,297 (USD) per year.
However, the earnings can fluctuate significantly based on the number of projects, experience, type of production (commercial, animation, audiobook, etc.), and the artist’s ability to market their skills.
Some top-tier voiceover artists can earn well over $100,000 annually.
Professional Voiceover Artist Job Description FAQs
What skills does a Professional Voiceover Artist need?
A Professional Voiceover Artist should have excellent vocal skills with a range of tones, accents, and characters.
They should have good reading and comprehension skills to understand scripts and deliver them effectively.
Voiceover Artists also need good microphone techniques, and sound recording and editing skills.
Furthermore, they need to have good resilience and adaptability to handle criticism and constant script changes.
Do Professional Voiceover Artists need a degree?
A degree is not typically required for a career in voice acting.
However, a degree in drama, performing arts, or a related field can be advantageous.
Most importantly, Professional Voiceover Artists need to have strong vocal abilities, and training in voice, speech, and acting can be beneficial.
They also need a professional demo reel showcasing their voiceover talent.
What should you look for in a Professional Voiceover Artist’s portfolio?
A strong portfolio or demo reel for a Professional Voiceover Artist will showcase their range and versatility across various styles, tones, and characters.
It should demonstrate their ability to convey different emotions and attitudes as per the demands of the script.
The quality of the recording is also crucial, as it reflects the artist’s professionalism and attention to detail.
What qualities make a good Professional Voiceover Artist?
A good Professional Voiceover Artist has a unique, engaging voice and the ability to adapt their delivery based on the requirements of the script.
They are patient, resilient, and able to handle criticism and feedback.
They also have a strong work ethic and are reliable, delivering high-quality work within deadlines.
Is it difficult to hire a Professional Voiceover Artist?
Hiring a Professional Voiceover Artist can be challenging due to the specificity of each project’s requirements.
The voiceover artist’s tone, style, and voice quality need to match the project’s theme, making the selection process highly subjective and dependent on the specific needs of each job.
Therefore, having a clear idea of what you’re looking for in a voiceover artist will make the hiring process easier.
Conclusion
There you have it.
Today, we’ve given you an insider’s view into the intriguing world of a professional voiceover artist.
And you know what?
It’s not just about speaking into a microphone.
It’s about creating vibrant, compelling soundscapes, one word, one tone, one voice at a time.
With our detailed professional voiceover artist job description template and real-world examples, you’re ready to take the stage.
But don’t stop there.
Immerse yourself further with our job description generator. It’s your next step to razor-sharp job listings or fine-tuning your showreel to perfection.
Remember:
Every voiceover is a part of a larger narrative.
Let’s narrate that story. Together.