Acting is not an easy profession to pursue as a career path. The amount of money an actor makes is not the same no matter what medium they work in (film, television, or theater) or what character they play (lead, supporting, or background).
Additionally, it is dependent on the level of experience: An actor with more experience can demand a larger salary than a novice.
Actors typically receive a per-day salary for their services in the film industry. Pay is calculated on a weekly basis if they are needed for more than five days.
Actors’ fees can change based on whether they’re needed for a single day of filming or for the duration of a whole television season. Actors on television can also be paid per episode. However, performers who perform on stages are typically compensated on a weekly basis.
The amount of money that actors make per film is determined by the number of days they are required to work on the set as well as how much their agent can negotiate. Shooting a movie might take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
Actors are paid on a sliding scale, increasing from a day rate to a weekly rate to a run-of-the-picture rate if their services are required for a longer period of time.
As an illustration, the current minimum day salary under the SAG-AFTRA theatrical contract is $1,056 for a picture with a budget of at least $2 million.
The weekly pay for a position that needs at least five days of work is $3,664. Stand-ins get $214 a day, while background performers receive $182.
If you’re cast in a major role, whether as a lead or a supporting actor, you can expect to earn at least $65,000 for your efforts during the duration of the filming (the run-of-the-picture rate).
A lower salary can be expected at an early stage in one’s career and for lower-level positions.
With that being said, let’s determine the average salary of an actor in Canada.
How Much do Canadian Actors Get Paid?
The standard wage for an actor in Canada is $43,778 per year, which is equivalent to $22.45 per hour. The starting salary for entry-level employment is $31,200 per year, but professionals with more experience can make up to $94,088 per year.
