Contents
Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA): Overview and 2024–2025 Minimum Rates
What is SAG-AFTRA?
The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is the principal union representing film and television performers, broadcasters, and other media professionals in the United States. SAG-AFTRA negotiates contracts that set minimum pay rates, working conditions, and benefits for its members.
SAG-AFTRA Minimum Pay Rates (Effective July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025)
Theatrical Films (Basic Agreement, budgets over $2 million):
Low Budget Theatrical (budgets $700,000–$2 million):
Ultra Low Budget (budgets $300,000 or less):
Short Project Agreement (budgets under $50,000, under 40 minutes):
Student Film Agreement (budgets under $35,000, under 35 minutes):
New Media Agreements:
Budgets under $250,000: 20% of basic scale
Budgets $250,000–$700,000: 35% of basic scale
Budgets $700,000–$1,000,000: 65% of basic scale
Network TV (2024–2025):
Additional Key Points
Overtime: SAG-AFTRA rates are based on an 8-hour workday (or 10 hours for weekly contracts). Overtime is paid at 1.5x the hourly rate for the next two hours, and 2x for hours beyond that.
Health & Pension: Producers must pay an additional 21% (as of July 2024) for health and pension benefits on top of base wages.
Eligibility for Benefits: To qualify for SAG-AFTRA health coverage, members must meet annual earnings or days-worked thresholds (e.g., $27,540 or 106 days in 2025).
Summary Table: SAG-AFTRA Minimum Rates (2024–2025)
Note: These are minimums; many actors negotiate higher rates. Rates differ for background actors, stunts, commercials, and other categories. Always consult the latest SAG-AFTRA rate sheets for specifics.
Low-budget agreement minimums (2024 figures from an older page)
These came in from a separate working page and do not line up with the 2024–2025 set above: the budget ceilings and the day rates both differ. Treat them as unverified and check the current agreement sheets on sagaftra.org before quoting either set.
📋 SAG-AFTRA Low-Budget Agreements (2024 Minimums)
| Agreement Name | Maximum Project Budget | Daily Rate (Up to 3 Days) | Weekly Rate (4+ Days in a Week) | Key Rules & Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-Budget Theatrical | $2,500,000 | $354 | $1,255 | Must follow most standard safety & work rules. Actors can defer pay above scale. |
| Modified Low-Budget | $1,250,000 | $177 | $628 | Simplified paperwork. Modified meal period and turnaround rules. |
| Ultra Low-Budget | $750,000 | $125 | $435 | Actors can be paid deferred compensation (not guaranteed). Very low barrier for producers. |
| Student Film | N/A | $100 (per day) | $360 (per week) | Must be a project for an accredited film school. Some core protections still apply. |
| Contract Name | Covers... | Primary Minimum Pay Structure (Examples) |
|---|---|---|
| Theatrical & Television (TV/Theatrical) | Film & scripted TV | Daily Rate: $1,082 (for 2024). Weekly Rate: $3,756 (for 2024). Rates vary for background actors, stunt performers, etc. |
| Network Television Code | Non-dramatic shows (e.g., talk/variety/reality) | Lower minimums than TV/Theatrical. Often based on program length and role (performer vs. panelist). |
| Commercials | Work in TV, radio, & internet ads | Session Fee: $669 (for an 8-hour day, 2024). Major earnings come from "run cycles"—payments each time the ad airs. |
| New Media | Original content for streaming (budget-specific) | For high-budget projects, follows TV/Theatrical rates. Lower budgets have reduced or negotiated rates. |
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date created: Friday, May 2nd 2025, 4:51:35 pm
date modified: Wednesday, August 6th 2025, 2:05:22 am
time created: Friday, May 2nd 2025, 4:51:35 pm
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created: 2025-05-02T12:51
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Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA): Overview and 2024–2025 Minimum Rates
What is SAG-AFTRA?
The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is the principal union representing film and television performers, broadcasters, and other media professionals in the United States. SAG-AFTRA negotiates contracts that set minimum pay rates, working conditions, and benefits for its members.
SAG-AFTRA Minimum Pay Rates (Effective July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025)
Theatrical Films (Basic Agreement, budgets over $2 million):
Low Budget Theatrical (budgets $700,000–$2 million):
Ultra Low Budget (budgets $300,000 or less):
Short Project Agreement (budgets under $50,000, under 40 minutes):
Student Film Agreement (budgets under $35,000, under 35 minutes):
New Media Agreements:
Budgets under $250,000: 20% of basic scale
Budgets $250,000–$700,000: 35% of basic scale
Budgets $700,000–$1,000,000: 65% of basic scale
Network TV (2024–2025):
Additional Key Points
Overtime: SAG-AFTRA rates are based on an 8-hour workday (or 10 hours for weekly contracts). Overtime is paid at 1.5x the hourly rate for the next two hours, and 2x for hours beyond that.
Health & Pension: Producers must pay an additional 21% (as of July 2024) for health and pension benefits on top of base wages.
Eligibility for Benefits: To qualify for SAG-AFTRA health coverage, members must meet annual earnings or days-worked thresholds (e.g., $27,540 or 106 days in 2025).
Summary Table: SAG-AFTRA Minimum Rates (2024–2025)
Note: These are minimums; many actors negotiate higher rates. Rates differ for background actors, stunts, commercials, and other categories. Always consult the latest SAG-AFTRA rate sheets for specifics.
Merged Segment (.review/organized/S/Sag Rates.md)
created: 2026-06-28T00:36
updated: 2026-06-28T00:50
Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA): Overview and 2024–2025 Minimum Rates
What is SAG-AFTRA?
The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is the principal union representing film and television performers, broadcasters, and other media professionals in the United States. SAG-AFTRA negotiates contracts that set minimum pay rates, working conditions, and benefits for its members.
SAG-AFTRA Minimum Pay Rates (Effective July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025)
Theatrical Films (Basic Agreement, budgets over $2 million):
Low Budget Theatrical (budgets $700,000–$2 million):
Ultra Low Budget (budgets $300,000 or less):
Short Project Agreement (budgets under $50,000, under 40 minutes):
Student Film Agreement (budgets under $35,000, under 35 minutes):
New Media Agreements:
Budgets under $250,000: 20% of basic scale
Budgets $250,000–$700,000: 35% of basic scale
Budgets $700,000–$1,000,000: 65% of basic scale
Network TV (2024–2025):
Additional Key Points
Overtime: SAG-AFTRA rates are based on an 8-hour workday (or 10 hours for weekly contracts). Overtime is paid at 1.5x the hourly rate for the next two hours, and 2x for hours beyond that.
Health & Pension: Producers must pay an additional 21% (as of July 2024) for health and pension benefits on top of base wages.
Eligibility for Benefits: To qualify for SAG-AFTRA health coverage, members must meet annual earnings or days-worked thresholds (e.g., $27,540 or 106 days in 2025).
Summary Table: SAG-AFTRA Minimum Rates (2024–2025)
Note: These are minimums; many actors negotiate higher rates. Rates differ for background actors, stunts, commercials, and other categories. Always consult the latest SAG-AFTRA rate sheets for specifics.