What Is a Day Rate in Acting? Meaning and What It Depends On

How scale works

Scale is the minimum pay a union contract sets for a given type of work. SAG-AFTRA publishes its current rate sheets on its Rates & Agreements page, organized by type of project (theatrical, TV and streaming, commercials and more). The rates change from year to year, so always check the current sheet instead of relying on a figure you read somewhere. Whether union scale applies to you depends on your status and the production: our guide to union vs non-union acting explains the difference, and how to join SAG-AFTRA covers the eligibility rules.

For film and TV, SAG-AFTRA has separate categories, contracts and minimums for day performers and weekly performers. If you have an agent, you’ll often hear “scale plus 10”: on a scale job, the agent negotiates an extra 10 percent on top of the minimum to cover their commission, so it doesn’t come out of your pay.

When do you find out the day rate?

It depends on the type of job. Casting notices often list the rate or the union contract, especially for commercials and smaller projects. On film and TV roles, the details are usually negotiated after you’re offered the part, while for series regular roles in a TV pilot, the deal is set before the final audition.

Important: never start a job without your pay agreed in writing. Working without a contract that says what you’ll earn leaves you exposed, both legally and financially.

And be wary of any casting call that asks you for money: on a legitimate job, they pay you, never the other way around. Charging you to audition is one of the clearest signs of a fake casting call.

How pay changes by medium

Each medium has its own way of paying:

• Commercials: under SAG-AFTRA’s commercials contract, you earn a session fee for each day you work or each commercial you shoot, whichever is greater. Principal performers are also paid for the use of the commercial, depending on where and how long it airs, and holding fees keep them exclusive to the brand. We cover more in how to get commercial auditions.
• TV, streaming and film: pay depends on the size of the role and the days you work. Day performers are paid by the day and weekly performers by the week, and principal performers can also earn residuals when the project is shown beyond its original use.
• Commercial theater: producers hire the cast for a fixed salary, regardless of how the box office does. On Actors’ Equity contracts, such as the one for Broadway, that salary is set by the week.
• Independent and co-op theater: pay is usually low, or the company splits whatever the show brings in. We explain each model in what is independent theater.

Tip: Before your first negotiation, look up the going rates for the kind of work you’re up for. Knowing the union minimums and what similar jobs pay gives you a solid base to negotiate with confidence and avoid being underpaid.

Frequently asked questions

What is a day rate in acting?

It’s what an actor earns for each day of work on a project, the equivalent of a daily wage in show business. You’ll also hear fee, rate or, in commercials, session fee. The amount should be set in your contract or deal memo before you start working.

How is an actor’s day rate calculated?

It depends on the type and budget of the production, the size of the role (lead, supporting, small speaking part or background), your experience and quote, whether you have an agent or manager negotiating for you and the minimums set by the union contract, if the job is union.

How much do actors get paid for a commercial?

It depends on the budget, where and how long the spot airs, the role and whether it’s union. On a SAG-AFTRA commercial, you earn a session fee for the shoot, plus use payments for the airing and holding fees if you’re kept exclusive to the brand. The union posts the current rates on its website.

Does the deal memo include the day rate?

It should. Once you’re offered a job, the deal memo spells out your rate, dates and role. For series regulars in a pilot, the rate is negotiated in a test deal before the final audition. Either way, it has to be in writing.

Is there a minimum day rate for actors?

On union jobs, yes: SAG-AFTRA sets minimums for film, TV and commercials, and Actors’ Equity sets minimum salaries for stage work. Nonunion jobs aren’t bound by those minimums, so the rate is whatever you negotiate. Check the current rate sheets before you accept an offer.