The average actor salary is surprisingly similar to just about any professional career that takes talent, education, and experience. It’s one of the most difficult jobs to get, but actors are often in high demand, and they can make a lot of money if they’re successful.
Starting Salary for Actors
Actors are people who perform in the theater, film, or television industry. They act out a script and play a character that is often different from themselves. Actors are typically classified by their gender and age, as well as their ability to perform certain types of roles.
The average starting salary for actors is dependent on the type of work they do and the region in which they live. The average starting salary in North America is about $42,000 per year, while it is $45,000 per year in Europe.
Average Pay for Actors—Yearly and Hourly
An actor’s salary is usually determined by their level of experience, the type of work they do, and the number of hours they are required to work. The median annual wage for actors is $59,850. The median hourly wage is approximately $28.77 an hour.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,770 per year, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $105,145 per year. The full-time salary of actors is determined largely by the level they are performing and the type of work they do.
For example, an actor who holds a degree in theater arts and has been employed as a performer for three years would be considered to be at their first level 5 pay scale, which means they are earning about $58,000 per year. This wage would rise to approximately $61,000 to $64,000 a year after four years at this wage level.
How much do actors get paid for TV shows?
Actors are the ones who bring life to TV shows. They are the ones who make the show worth watching. They are also the ones who get paid for their hard work.
But how much do actors get paid for TV shows?
The average actor salary you can get depends on a number of factors, including:
- The network they work with
- How much they charge per episode
- The length of their contract
- How many episodes they film each year
- Their popularity
TV show salaries vary depending on the type of show and the network it airs on. Some popular TV shows have actors who make millions of dollars per episode. For example, actors from Game of Thrones were paid $500,000 per episode.
Other shows have actors who make less than $10,000 per episode. For example, most of the actors from The Big Bang Theory were paid about $100,000 per episode.
How much do actors make per day?
The answer to this question is hard to give because actors make different rates per day, depending on the work they are doing. For example, a film actor will make more than an actor who is performing on stage.
There are other factors that can affect how much an actor makes in a day. For example, if the actor is unionized and has a certain salary that they are guaranteed, then their pay will be determined by how many hours they work.
If the actor is non-unionized and not guaranteed a certain amount of pay per hour, then they will be paid based on what their employer pays them for the job.
For example, under the SAG-AFTRA theatrical contract for films that have a budget of at least $2 million, the minimum day rate is currently set at $1,087 per day.
If you work at least five days in a row, then the rate would be $3,785 per week. Background actors make $182 a day, and stand-ins make $214 a day.
How much do actors make per movie?
So, how much do actors get paid per movie? The answer to this question is not as straightforward as it may seem.
Some actors are paid a base salary, while others get paid per appearance. Some actors work on movies that pay them a lot less than other movies. A few actors who play major roles in blockbusters can make millions of dollars for their work.
There are many factors that affect how much an actor gets paid for a movie, including the actor’s rank in Hollywood, the size of the role, and whether the actor is considered a “star.”
Actors are oftentimes paid a fixed fee for each movie they act in. But, some actors have negotiated contracts that pay them a percentage of the film’s gross profits.
As an example, here’s a list of the highest earnings per movie for top actors in 2017:
1. Dwayne Johnson—$64.5 million
2. Jackie Chan—$45 million
3. Vin Diesel—$35 million
4. Tom Cruise—$33 million
5. Robert Downey Jr.—$31 million
6. Jennifer Lawrence—$28 million
7. Chris Hemsworth—$27 million
8. Emma Stone—$26 million
9. Leonardo DiCaprio—$25 million
10. Mark Wahlberg—$23.5 million
Varied Factors That Determine Your Average Actor Salary
In order to understand what an actor makes, it is important to look at a few different factors. These factors include the experience level of the actor, the size of the production budget, and whether they are unionized.
The bigger the production budget, the more money an actor will make. Unionized actors can make more than non-unionized actors because they are protected by unions that negotiate their pay rates.
Tips to Increase Your Potential Earning Potential
The best way to increase your own average actor salary is to find a way to stand out.
No matter what career we are in, it is essential to find ways to stand out from the crowd. The acting industry is no different.
You may have noticed that there are many actors or actresses who are working on projects that you would like to work on, but you don’t have the connections or the right look for it.
This can be frustrating and discouraging, but it doesn’t have to be! There are many ways that you can make yourself stand out and get noticed by casting directors, producers, and directors, which will lead to more jobs for you in the future.
Some of these include:
- Take acting classes
- Build a strong social media presence (YouTube channel)
- Work with other actors/actresses who have connections in the industry, so they can help put you in the proper rooms
- Create your own audition videos on YouTube and send them to casting directors
- Get involved in whatever type of community you’re interested in
- Become a producer of a show, film, or event that’s relevant to your interests
There are many opportunities to get involved in the community and meet people who can help you move ahead in your career.
