Broadway pay starts from a single published number: the Actors' Equity production contract minimum, which rose to $2,717 per week when the new agreement with the Broadway League took effect in late September 2025. Members ratified the deal that October, locking in 3% raises for each year of the contract through 2028. Everything else on a Broadway paycheck builds on that base.
Price a full Broadway year, after agent fees and taxes, with our free Actor Salary Calculator.
The base: $2,717 a week for eight shows
Once a show opens, the standard load is eight performances a week, typically six evenings and two matinees. The minimum covers that full load, and rehearsal weeks before opening are paid at contract minimum too. Health contributions and pension credits ride on top of the salary, which is how Broadway performers qualify for union health coverage.
A full 52-week year at the 2025–26 minimum comes to about $141,000. The honest caveat is that almost nobody works 52 straight weeks: shows close, contracts end, and the median Broadway year includes unpaid months between jobs. That is the same pattern as screen work, where the day rates look strong and the gaps between bookings decide the annual number.
What adds to the minimum
Equity contracts price extra responsibility line by line. Swings, the performers who cover multiple ensemble tracks and can go on in any of them with a few hours' notice, earn an additional 6% under the current agreement. Understudying a principal role, moving scenery, playing an instrument, and dance captain duties each add negotiated increments. An ensemble member stacking several of these can clear the minimum by hundreds of dollars a week.
What principals and stars negotiate
The minimum is a floor for everyone, and principals in named roles negotiate above it based on the show's budget and their draw. For marquee stars the structure changes: trade coverage of the biggest names describes packages in six figures per week, usually a guarantee against a percentage of the weekly box office gross. When the house sells out, the percentage wins. That structure is why a star's Broadway run can out-earn film work in the same months, and it shows up clearly in our Hugh Jackman profile, where Broadway runs sit alongside his film paydays as a separate documented lane.
How Broadway compares to screen rates
| Work | Weekly minimum | Contract |
|---|---|---|
| Broadway performer | $2,717 | Equity production contract, from Sept 2025 |
| Film weekly performer | $4,326 | SAG-AFTRA theatrical, Jul 2025 to Jun 2026 |
| TV guest star, 1-hour episode | $10,965 / episode | SAG-AFTRA Television Agreement, major role |
Screen minimums run higher per week, and Broadway answers with duration. A film role is a few weeks; a healthy Broadway contract runs months to years, with the same paycheck arriving every week. Stage actors also keep a schedule that allows daytime screen work, voice sessions, and teaching, which is how many New York careers are actually assembled.
What lands after fees and taxes
Broadway salaries are gross. An agent takes up to 10%, a manager 10% more where one is used, and New York's combined federal, state, and city taxes bite hard at these income levels. An ensemble member grossing $141,000 keeps roughly half after representation and taxes, which the calculator works out for any week count and negotiating position.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Broadway actors make per week?
The minimum is $2,717 per week under the Equity production contract in effect from September 2025, rising 3% a year through 2028. Swings earn 6% more, extra duties add increments, and principals negotiate above the minimum.
How much do Broadway actors make per year?
About $141,000 for a full year of work at the 2025–26 minimum. Most years include gaps between shows, so typical annual income lands below that, while principals in long-running hits earn well above it.
How much do Broadway stars make?
Stars negotiate individual packages that trade coverage puts in six figures per week, usually a guarantee against a percentage of the box office gross. A sold-out run makes the percentage the bigger number.
Do Broadway actors get paid for rehearsals?
Yes. Rehearsal weeks pay the contract minimum, and the agreement includes health contributions, pension credits, and per-performance extras. Eight shows a week is the standard load after opening.