How much does an actor make?

Question

How much does an amateur actor make? and how much money does an experienced actor make? For the first big role you play in a movie as one of the main characters do you think you would make like ehhh... $10,000 ? IDK.

Answer 1

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

"Median hourly earnings of actors were $11.28 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $7.75 and $30.76. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $6.63, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $56.48. Median annual earnings were $15.20 in performing arts companies and $9.27 in motion picture and video industries. Annual earnings data for actors were not available because of the wide variation in the number of hours worked by actors and the short-term nature of many jobs, which may last for 1 day or 1 week; it is extremely rare for actors to have guaranteed employment that exceeded 3 to 6 months.

Minimum salaries, hours of work, and other conditions of employment are covered in collective bargaining agreements between the producers and the unions representing workers. The Actors’ Equity Association (Equity) represents stage actors; the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) covers actors in motion pictures, including television, commercials, and films; and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) represents television and radio studio performers. Some actors who regularly work in several media find it advantageous to join multiple unions, while SAG and AFTRA may share jurisdiction for work in additional areas, such as the production of training or educational films not slated for broadcast, television commercial work, and interactive media. While these unions generally determine minimum salaries, any actor or director may negotiate for a salary higher than the minimum.

Under terms of a joint SAG and AFTRA contract covering all unionized workers, motion picture and television actors with speaking parts earned a minimum daily rate of $716 or $2,483 for a 5-day week as of October 1, 2005. Actors also receive contributions to their health and pension plans and additional compensation for reruns and foreign telecasts of the productions in which they appear.

According to Equity, the minimum weekly salary for actors in Broadway productions as of June 30, 2005 was $1,422. Actors in Off-Broadway theaters received minimums ranging from $493 to $857 a week as of October 23, 2005, depending on the seating capacity of the theater. Regional theaters that operate under an Equity agreement pay actors $531 to $800 per week. For touring productions, actors receive an additional $777 per week for living expenses ($819 per week in higher cost cities). New terms were negotiated under an “experimental touring program” provision for lower budget musicals that tour to smaller cities or that perform for fewer performances at each stop. In an effort to increase the number of paid workweeks while on tour, actors may be paid less than the full production rate for touring shows in exchange for higher per diems and profit participation.

Some well-known actors—stars—earn well above the minimum; their salaries are many times the figures cited, creating the false impression that all actors are highly paid. For example, of the nearly 100,000 SAG members, only about 50 might be considered stars. The average income that SAG members earn from acting—less than $5,000 a year—is low because employment is sporadic. Therefore, most actors must supplement their incomes by holding jobs in other occupations."

NOTE: The above number are for Union actors (ie. professional) . For most non-union actors, working on non-union projects the pay is nil to not much. The rates for non-union actors on union projects are on the SAG and AFTRA website. Most likely, in this case it would be either as an extra or "under 5" (lines). If a non-union actor got a lead role in a union film (which are all of the hollywood films and the majority of the indies that make it to the theaters, they would most likely have to sign a union contract and become union.

ALSO NOTE: In this business there is no direct correlation between experience and the amount of money you make. The higher salaries come from larger roles and/or star power, not experience. As Hollywood has often shown us, "star power" and talent are not mutually exclusive.

Sorry for all the jargon and that this is so long, but there really is no succinct answer, there are so many variables involved. To answer your last question (about being paid $10,000), ultimately it would depend on the budget of the film. However, a film would probably have a pretty decent budget to be able to pay their leads $10,000. Not a Hollywood blockbuster, but not a student film or a short making festival rounds. This would be a film that would be getting distribution either into theaters or straight to the stores, but either way, the director will be looking for someone who can deliver.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Okay, that's a highly variable question. By "amatuer actor" do you mean not very good, or just hasn't been acting long? The pay for actors his also highly variable. As far as a starring role in a feature film, there are also many factors. Now, you say $10,000... is that for the "amatuer actor" or any actor? I can name a ton of actors that don't make less than $10M a movie and that's not necessarily for the lead role. So, it all depends and varies. Now, again, the $10,000. Is it a student film, independent film or a hollywood blockbuster? Hope this helps...

Answer 3

There are so many answers to your questions, it's impossible to answer with much accuracy. If by amateur, you mean someone with not much if any experience the chance of getting the lead in a big studio film are nil. You may get the lead in a student film in which case you are not likely to get paid at all. Even indies these days take name actors. If by chance you were to get lucky and get the rolse of a lifetime, I would venture to guess you would be offered somewhere between $15-50k depending on the budget of the film. Name actors would of course get much more. Of course, if the film has no budget and they're taking a chance on you but you feel the project has a chance of hitting it big you can always negotiate for a piece of the back end in exchange for up front salary. A small percentage of the profit instead of up front salary or in exchange for a smaller salary. If your movie turns out to be the next Little Miss Sunshine then you will have gambled to your advantage. If not, you spent time on a set, gained valable experience, and hopefully made valuable connections :-)

With name actors or even more experienced actors, they all have such varied levels of popularity and experience their offers could vary on literally a daily basis. Those who are getting offers of $25 million today, in 10 years may be gettin less than half of that or drop off the radar completely. We are such a fickle audience...

Good luck

Answer 4

There are so many variables, it's like saying how much does a copyeditor make. Start off at an early age, that's not even a given. TVQ FilmQ, that is, the way you come across in front of a camera...kismet. Scale is scale, anything on top is gravy and at the discretion of the agent, or if the actor is not so blessed, and most are, the actor.

Answer 5

an amateur actor means that they are not professional and therefore do not get paid. Yes those big named actors in Hollywood can make a lot of money in films, but that is not most actors. Just as a side note if you want to act in movies then get experience as an extra, you don't get paid, but you can see how movies are made and gain some experience, mainly by observing. The actor who played Napoleon dynamite only received around 1000 bucks for filming, but the movie made his career take off, so you might look for gaining experience, and what will help your career, not how to make a quick buck.

Answer 6

I would say that I already want to be an actor so if they get paid good im in
probably like 5000 bucks so yup if its a huge movie

Answer 7

There is not a exact answer for this because acting money is sporadic unless you have a regular TV show, Some years I make $100,000 + and some less . Once you have a well known name then you have a sort of going rate.

Answer 8

It all depends on whether you are a starving actor, working at the local McDonalds, or a Lindsey Lohan.

Answer 9

An actor makes alot of money...if they are expirianced. In hollywood, the highest paid actor is roughly 25 million. Some one like Myrel Streep that is, but some like amanda bynes would recieve 5 million, a stage actor on broadway usually gets a percentage of how much the play makes, and an amateur actor, rarely gets paid !

Also, it depends how good you are obviously, and if you get a break, remember in hollywood EVERYONE is an actor. So you need something special.
In todays hollywood, to be truly sucessful, actors need to start off at an early age, most stars have been acting since their teens....

Answer 10

depends . . . did skits at a theme park as a teenager and made 8.00 per hour . .