SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA Theatrical Rates 2025
Complete SAG‑AFTRA theatrical, low‑budget & ultra‑low‑budget rates for July 2025–June 2026. Day, weekly, stunt & background scales & penalties & FAQs.
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Updated July 23, 2025 (effective for work July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026)
This page summarizes the DGA Minimum Salary Schedule into a fast, budget-ready reference for features, TV (network, basic cable), pay TV, and high-budget SVOD/AVOD—plus the key rules around guarantees, premiums, AD/UPM scales, and pension & health. Bookmark this and plug the numbers straight into your budget and deal memos.
Identify your format (Theatrical Feature, Episodic TV, Pilot, Pay TV, High-Budget SVOD/AVOD).
Grab the Program Rate and the guaranteed prep/shoot to model schedule and cash flow.
Don’t forget Pension & Health ceilings and percentages, and the 6th/7th day/holiday premiums.
Category | Weekly Salary | Guaranteed Prep | Guaranteed Employment | Guaranteed Cutting Allowance | Over-Guarantee (Daily) | Daily Employment (where permitted) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High-Budget Features | $24,599 | 2 weeks | 10 weeks | 1 week | $4,920 | $6,150 |
Shorts & Documentaries | $17,568 | 2 days | 1 week + 1 day | — | $3,514 | $4,392 |
Length | Program Rate | Guaranteed Prep | Guaranteed Shooting | Over-Guarantee (Daily) | Daily Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
½-Hour | $33,784 | 3 days | 4 days | $4,826/day | $6,033/day |
1-Hour | $57,374 | 7 days | 8 days | $3,825/day | $4,781/day |
1.5-Hour | $95,627 | 12 days | 13 days | $3,825/day | $4,781/day |
2-Hour | $160,645 | 15 days | 27 days | $3,825/day | $4,781/day |
½-hour to 2-hour programs scale between $15,179 – $63,398, with 3–12 days prep and 3–12 days guaranteed shooting. Daily employment and over-guarantee rates track slightly lower than prime-time.
Examples:
½-Hour Network Pilot: $95,627 program rate, 14 days included, $6,830 daily over-guarantee.
1-Hour Network Pilot: $127,496 program rate, 24 days included, $5,312 daily over-guarantee.
2-Hour Network Pilot: $223,117 program rate, 50 days included, $4,462 daily over-guarantee.
Basic Cable pilots run lower: e.g., ½-Hour $57,376; 1-Hour $76,498.
½-Hour (≥$5M): $38,633; prep 3 days; shoot 4 days; 1 paid post day.
1-Hour (≥$7M): $68,893; prep 7 days; shoot 9 days; 2 paid post days.
96+ Minutes (≥$4.5M): $160,737; prep 15 days; shoot 27 days.
Platforms >20M subs (Netflix, Prime, Disney+, Max, etc.) pay at these rates; smaller platforms pay lower scaled rates.
You can look at the DGA's rate cards for 1st AD's, 2nd AD's, and Production Managers on their website.
Role | Weekly Studio | Weekly Location | Weekly Prod Fee (Studio) | Weekly Prod Fee (Location) | Daily Studio | Daily Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unit Production Manager | $7,021 | $9,830 | $1,522 | $1,812 | $1,755 | $2,458 |
1st AD | $6,676 | $9,338 | $1,239 | $1,522 | $1,669 | $2,334 |
Key 2nd AD | $4,473 | $6,251 | $943 | $1,239 | $1,118 | $1,563 |
2nd 2nd AD | $4,223 | $5,905 | — | — | $1,056 | $1,476 |
Additional 2nd AD | $2,571 | $3,606 | — | — | $643 | $901 |
Production Fees: These are in addition to salary and apply on a weekly basis. Daily employment also includes a pro-rated production fee.
Cable Discounts: Certain Basic Cable dramatic programs may pay 83.5%–90% of Article 13 minimums depending on budget and season, but by the 4th season they must pay 100%.
DGA Rates 2025-2026 (1)
6th Day (in-town): 150% pro-rata daily.
7th Day / Holiday: 200% or weekly + $4,413.
Forced Call/Rest Invasion: 1 day or $900, whichever is less.
Extended Days for ADs/UPMs: Extra day’s pay if the day runs past 15–16 hrs.
Employer: 8.75% Pension + 11.25% Health.
Employee: 2.5% Pension.
Paid Parental Leave: +0.5% to Health.
Ceilings: Theatrical $300k Pension / $400k Health; Episodic = 250% of scale or actual, whichever is greater.
Air Travel: Business class required except non-stop <1,000 miles (coach permitted). Baggage/meal fees reimbursed.
Upgrade Rule: If one covered employee is upgraded to a higher class, all DGA-covered crew on the same flight are upgraded.
2nd AD Wrap Supervision Allowance: $62/day (not fringeable).
Between directors’ scale minimums and the expanded AD/UPM matrix, budgeting DGA crew means tracking:
Correct prep and shoot guarantees,
Production fees for AD/UPMs,
P&H percentages with ceilings, and
Premium triggers for 6th/7th days, holidays, or long workdays.
Accurate modeling at the budget stage avoids costly surprises later. Always cite these schedule minimums directly in deal memos.
Complete SAG‑AFTRA theatrical, low‑budget & ultra‑low‑budget rates for July 2025–June 2026. Day, weekly, stunt & background scales & penalties & FAQs.
Instant reference for 2025 state minimum wages, city wage floors, & overtime triggers—plus budgeting tips for film, series, & commercial productions.