SAG AFTRA Television Contracts
Unlike SAG agreements for film (where everything is determined by budget), in the world of television, rates are determined by the number of episodes you’re going to create, and more often than not, the episode’s length.
If you’re making a television series that’ll go directly online (ala Netflix) and your budget is under a million, then you’ll want to check out New Media.
PERFORMERS IN ONE EPISODE
Need an actor for just one episode of your series to say a few lines? Whether you’re producing a half-hour or hour-long episode, if you’re hiring a SAG actor for just one episode, you’re looking at $1,056 a day, $2,674 for three days, or $3,664 for the entire week.
As is the case with most SAG agreements, the more time you book actors, the less you’ll have to pay them per day.
Valid through 6/30/22:
SAG Day Rate: $1,056 / Day
SAG Three-Day Rate: $2,674 / 3 Day Period
SAG Weekly Scale: $3,664 / Week
Valid from 7/1/22 through 6/30/23:
SAG Day Rate: $1,088 / Day
SAG Three-Day Rate: $2,754 / 3 Day Period
SAG Weekly Scale: $3,774 / Week
MAJOR ROLE PERFORMERS IN ONE EPISODE
If you’re booking a big name guest star in one episode, then in the eyes of SAG this is usually classified as a major role performer. Under this SAG contract, producers pay $5,808 per week for major role performers on a half-hour program, and $9,293 per week for hour-long programs.
However, if your major role performer is appearing in an episode within the first season of your show, it’s possible you may only have to pay the regular rate for a performer (above).
Valid through 6/30/22:
1/2 Hour Program: $5,808 / week
1 Hour Program: $9,293 / week
Valid from 7/1/22 through 6/30/23:
1/2 Hour Program: $5,984 / week
1 Hour Program: $9,574 / week
PERFORMERS IN MULTIPLE PROGRAMS
Performers under Multiple Programs Agreements is a contract that applies to actors who are shooting multiple episodes of a show within one week. If you’re producing a daily talk show or variety show for streaming or cable, this is your pay bracket.
SAG rates for multiple programs are put on a weekly scale, with $2,716 per week for both 1/2 Hour and 1 Hour Programs, $3,192 per week for 90 minute programs, and $3,762 per week for two hour programs.
Valid through 6/30/22:
1/2 Hour Program: $2,716 / week
1 Hour Program: $2,716 / week
1 1/2 Hour Program: $3,192 / week
2 Hour Program: $3,762 / week
Valid from 7/1/22 through 6/30/23:
1/2 Hour Program: $2,797 / week
1 Hour Program: $2,797 / week
1 1/2 Hour Program: $3,288 / week
2 Hour Program: $3,875 / week
SERIES REGULARS IN 1/2 HOUR
A Series Regular Contract for 1/2 Hour Programs applies to actors who appear in half or more of a season’s given episodes (based on a thirteen episode season). SAG actors are paid weekly for their time, with $3,664 / week for appearing in every episode, $4,195 per week for appearing in more than half, and $4,891 per week for appearing in half.
If an actor appears in less than half of a season’s episode order, talent would then be classified as a major role (guest star). Note that the SAG rates increase the less an actor appears, as those actors will be working less weeks and therefore less net pay.
Valid through 6/30/22:
13 out of 13 Episodes: $3,664 / week
12-7 Episodes: $4,195 / week
6 Episodes: $4,891 / week
Valid from 7/1/22 through 6/30/23:
13 out of 13 Episodes: $3,774 / week
12-7 Episodes: $4,321 / week
6 Episodes: $5,038 / week
SERIES REGULARS IN 1 HOUR
The SAG pay scale for Series Regulars on 1 hour shows functions exactly like 1/2 hours. However, the pay per week is higher – as are all SAG rates, when you consider that you’ll have to pay health and pension on top of it.
SAG actors are paid weekly for their time, with $4,410 per week for appearing in every episode, $4,919 per week for appearing in more than half, and $5,753 per week for appearing in half.
Valid through 6/30/22:
13 out of 13 Episodes: $4,410 / week
12-7 Episodes: $4,919 / week
6 Episodes: $5,753 / week
Valid from 7/1/22 through 6/30/23:
13 out of 13 Episodes: $4,542 / week
12-7 Episodes: $5,067 / week
6 Episodes: $5,926 / week