How Much Do Actors Earn?

It is common knowledge that Hollywood actors make a lot of money. This applies not only to those whose paychecks per role reach millions of dollars, but also to everyone else regularly employed in film and television. However, it would be naive to assume that anyone cast in a professional Hollywood project immediately becomes wealthy. Nonetheless, if an actor takes part in even two or three projects a year (even in supporting roles), it is usually enough to make a decent living.

Earnings for Background Actors in Hollywood

The simplest way to get into the industry is by working as a background actor (extra). You don’t need an acting degree or even perfect English for this. All you need to do is move to Los Angeles and regularly check listings in the relevant sections on Casting Networks or Craigslist.

Earnings for non-union background actors are modest—roughly $120–$150 for an 8–10 hour shoot, plus free catering. If a director needs a specific “look”—for instance, a 13-14 year old with red hair (such roles are specifically advertised)—the pay can be higher, reaching $300–$500 per day. Of course, this only applies to background work without any lines. Speaking roles operate under completely different rates and conditions.

SAG-AFTRA Rates

If a background actor is a member of the SAG-AFTRA union, they are paid at a much higher rate. The union dictates strict conditions to ensure that member salaries meet the agreed-upon minimums.

For example, while a “person off the street” might be paid $150 for an 8-hour day, a Guild member must receive at least $224 for the same work. In the event of overtime, the rate increases to 1.5x after 8 hours and 2x after 10 or 12 hours (depending on the specific contract).

Furthermore, there are numerous “bumps” (adjustments) that increase an actor’s pay:

Smoke/Wet Work: If an extra has to be in a smoke-filled room or get wet (rain scenes, pool scenes, or “walking out of the ocean”), their daily pay increases by $14.
Wardrobe: If an actor wears studio-provided props or costumes, they get a bump. For a standard costume, it’s $19, and for a police uniform, it’s $38. Each additional wardrobe change adds $6.80.
Animals & Equipment: Shooting with a pet adds $23 to the daily rate; a horse adds $115 or more. Carrying luggage in a shot adds $5.50, riding a bicycle adds $12, and driving a car or motorcycle adds $37.50 (driving a police car adds $50).
Weekends: If filming takes place on a Saturday, the rate for a SAG-AFTRA background actor increases by 50%; on Sunday, it increases by 100%. Thus, a single day’s work can easily net $300 or more.

These rates apply only to non-speaking roles. If a director decides to give an extra a few lines (e.g., “Here is your wine, sir!”), their status automatically changes from “Background” to “Principal Performer,” and their pay grade skyrockets.

How to Join the Screen Actors Guild

Joining SAG-AFTRA is not easy, but the benefits are significant. To become eligible, a non-professional typically needs to work on at least three union films and receive a voucher for each day of work. After collecting three vouchers and paying a $3,000 initiation fee, the actor becomes a member and is formally considered a professional.

Being one of the roughly 170,000 members of SAG-AFTRA is both prestigious and financially beneficial, especially regarding social protections and pensions. An actor who has worked several supporting roles over their career can look forward to a pension of up to $120,000 a year, significantly higher than the average pension in other professions.

Is There a Real Chance to Get a “Big Break” via Background Work?

To be honest, the chances are slim. Many hopefuls fly to Los Angeles dreaming of movie stardom but never make it past background work or music videos. Even those with model looks who have been auditioning since childhood rarely land speaking roles. You can certainly try, but it’s best to keep your expectations realistic.

Earnings for Principal Performers

Unlike background actors, Principal Performers (those with speaking roles) are paid on a different scale. As of July 2025, the minimum daily rate for an actor with more than 10 lines is $1,246 (compared to $966 back in 2017). Various bonuses for night shoots, Saturdays, or holidays are added to this base.

The union sometimes makes concessions for independent films by lowering minimum rates:

Low Budget (LBA): $810/day or $2,812/week.
Moderate Low Budget (MLB): $436/day or $1,514/week.
Ultra Low Budget (ULA): $249/day.

For major projects like TV series or feature films that shoot for months, actors are paid a weekly rate (minimum $4,326). This applies to lesser-known actors; if a show becomes a hit, they renegotiate. An actor might earn the minimum for Season 1 but secure a contract for, say, $100,000 for 6 episodes in Season 2. It is not uncommon for a salary to increase tenfold between seasons.

How Much Do Movie and TV Stars Make?

Excluding superstars like Leonardo DiCaprio or Margot Robbie, who can command $15–$20 million per film, “second-tier” stars typically earn from $100,000 per project. This is negotiated individually based on the actor’s “quote,” their agency’s demands, and the project’s budget.

In the TV industry, salaries are even more status-dependent:

Charlie Sheen holds a record for Two and a Half Men at $1.8 million per episode.
The lead cast of Friends famously earned $1 million per episode in the final seasons.
The leads of The Big Bang Theory (Parsons, Galecki, Cuoco) also reached the $1 million per episode mark, while supporting cast members made $100k–$200k.
Game of Thrones leads (Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage) went from $500k to $2 million per episode for the final season.
Pedro Pascal earned $1 million per episode for The Last of Us.
The Kids from Stranger Things: In Season 1, they earned just $30,000 per episode. By Season 5, the “kid” cast (now young adults) earned $875,000 per episode, while Winona Ryder and David Harbour cleared roughly $1,187,500 per episode.