* Season: Salaries typically increase as a show progresses.
* Negotiation: Actors negotiate individual contracts.
* Popularity and "star power": The more established an actor is, the higher their salary is likely to be.
* Back-end deals: Actors may have profit-sharing agreements that affect their earnings beyond base salary.
However, here's what we know based on reported information and industry standards:
* The main cast (Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Alyson Hannigan, and Neil Patrick Harris) were likely among the highest-paid actors on the show. They probably earned significantly more than the supporting cast members.
* Neil Patrick Harris was likely the highest paid. His fame and success from other projects likely made him a top earner. Some sources speculate he may have been paid upwards of $200,000 per episode by the final seasons.
* Other main cast members likely earned substantial salaries. It's reasonable to estimate that they could have earned between $100,000 and $150,000 per episode by the later seasons.
It's important to note that these are estimates based on available information and industry trends. The actual figures could be higher or lower.
To get more accurate information, you would likely need to look for reliable sources like contract negotiations or insider information from the entertainment industry.