* Ian Somerhalder (Damon Salvatore) - $40,000 per episode
* Nina Dobrev (Elena Gilbert) - $40,000 per episode
* Paul Wesley (Stefan Salvatore) - $40,000 per episode
* Candice King (Caroline Forbes) - $35,000 per episode
* Kat Graham (Bonnie Bennett) - $35,000 per episode
* Michael Trevino (Tyler Lockwood) - $25,000 per episode
Supporting Cast
* Zach Roerig (Matt Donovan) - $20,000 per episode
* Steven R. McQueen (Jeremy Gilbert) - $20,000 per episode
* Sara Canning (Jenna Sommers) - $15,000 per episode
* Kelly Hu (Pearl Zhu) - $10,000 per episode
Recurring Cast
* Matthew Davis (Alaric Saltzman) - $10,000 per episode
* Marguerite MacIntyre (Sheriff Forbes) - $8,000 per episode
* Kayla Ewell (Vicki Donovan) - $8,000 per episode
* David Anders (John Gilbert) - $7,000 per episode
* Susan Walters (Carol Lockwood) - $6,000 per episode