According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for actors was $58,502 in May 2020. The top 10% of actors earned more than $151,978, while the bottom 10% earned less than $25,760.
Some of the highest-paid actors in the world can earn tens of millions of dollars per year, while those who are just starting out or working in smaller productions may only earn a few thousand dollars.
Here are some examples of what actors might earn for different types of projects:
* Lead actor in a Hollywood blockbuster: $10-$20 million
* Lead actor in a TV series: $1-2 million per episode
* Supporting actor in a movie: $100,000-$500,000
* Supporting actor in a TV series: $20,000-$30,000 per episode
* Actor in a stage play: $50,000-$100,000 per year
* Actor in a commercial: $2,000-$10,000
* Voice actor: $15,000-$80,000 per year
In addition to salary, actors may also receive royalties from DVD sales, streaming, and other secondary sources of revenue.