SAG-AFTRA Theatrical Rates 2025

Updated July 21, 2025

This article has all the up‑to‑date 2025  SAG‑AFTRA theatrical rates. As of July 1 2025, the union day rate is $1,246, and the weekly performer scale is $4,326, covering productions through June 30, 2026. These rate sheets will help any producers, line producers, and UPM through every budget tier—Theatrical Basic, Low Budget, Moderate Low, Ultra Low, and the Short Project Agreement—along with pension & health fringes, meal‑penalty ladders, travel rules, and night‑premium triggers. Bookmark it, plug the numbers straight into your budget, and spend less time hunting for “SAG day rate 2025” or “SAG weekly scale” answers and more time producing your film.

To Get Started:

Find your production tier; under each agreement title, it will say the budget range of the agreement. From there, you will be able to find almost every bit of information you need for your production budgeting.

Contact for SAG-AFTRA Agreements:

EntContractsInfo@sagaftra.org

(323) 549-6828

 Theatrical Basic Agreement (> $2 M)

Becoming a SAG-AFTRA signatory is the first step you need to take before production to hire SAG-AFTRA actors. You will need to apply to be a SAG-AFTRA Signatory and follow the steps to get started.

Here is the list of contracts and agreements you will need to get started with.

Below are all the rates for the SAG Basic Agreement. Including SAG day performers' rates, SAG weekly rates, SAG background rates, SAG stand-in rates, and more. Pension and health, fringes will be under the rate tables with per diem and other rates.

Day Performers' Rates -Theatrical Basic

Weekly Performers' Rates -Theatrical Basic

Multiple Picture Performers' Rates -Theatrical Basic

Background Actors Rates -Theatrical Basic

Special Ability Background Actors' Rates -Theatrical Basic

Stand-Ins / Photo Doubles' Rates -Theatrical Basic

Stunt Performers' Rates -Theatrical Basic

For more information on Stunt Performers, here is SAG-AFTRA's FAQ for Stunt Performers.

Pension/Health/IA CF: 

21 % of gross for principals; 20.5 % for background 

Background minimum count :

Schedule X‑I/X‑II Los Angeles 30‑mile zone: 

57 (LA), 40 (NY), 25 (other) — see Basic Agreement.

For more details on Background Actor Rules.

Meal penalties:

• First half-hour, or fraction: $25• Second half-hour, or fraction: $35• Each half-hour after, or fraction : $50

Meal Break Timing: Performers must be given the 1st-meal-break within 6 hours from the time of the first call. The 2nd-meal-break must be called within 6 hours from the time of being called back from the 1st-meal-break. Each meal break must be no less than 30 minutes, but the Producer can deduct actual time up to 1 hour spent at meals.

NDB (Non-Deductible Breakfasts): The purpose of synchronizing performer and crew meal-time, the performer may be given a non-deductible meal of 15 minutes free from all activity within two hours of the performer’s call time. A notation indicating the start and finish time of the non-deductible meal must be on the production time report.

Per Diem and Accommodations:

Overnight locations, in addition to lodging, the Production must provide a per diem meal allowance to be paid before the day or week of work. These are only applicable if meals are not provided by the Production, such as on most non-shoot days.

Breakfast: $14.00Lunch: $21.00Dinner: $35.00

Full day = $70

Note: Regardless of the time of call, the first major meal served may only be deducted at the lunch rate.Transportation:When a performer is required to fly at the request of Production, all flights must be business class if available and, if not available, first class according to the SAG-AFTRA agreement.  However, coach class* air travel is acceptable in the following circumstances:• For domestic flights that are less than 1,000 air miles when the flight is non-stop;• For non-stop flights between LA and Vancouver;• For non-stop flights that are less than 1,000 miles between the US and Vancouver or between the US and Toronto;• If a substantial number of the cast & crew are being transported;• If 6 or more performers and/or background performers travel together in the same class on the same flight; • For auditions or interviews.*Production must provide elevated coach class (e.g., Economy Plus, extended leg room, etc.) when available. Performers who travel by coach class shall be reimbursed by Producer for baggage fees and costs of in-flight meals, provided the performer submits receipts and a request for reimbursement within 30 days after the flight.

Forced‑call rest invasion: 

1 day or $900 (whichever is less) 

Must give a 56‑hr week‑end (may drop to 54 hrs on studio shoots). Breach = forced‑call penalty above.

Night premium:

None except ADR/looping = 10 % per straight‑time hr worked 8 pm‑6 am 

 Low‑Budget Agreement - LBA (< $2 M)

Becoming a SAG-AFTRA signatory is the first step you need to take before you can start production on your low-budget agreement film to hire SAG-AFTRA actors. You will need to apply to be a SAG-AFTRA Signatory and follow the steps to get started.

Here is the list of contracts and agreements you will need to get started with a low-budget agreement project.

Below are all the rates for the SAG low budget Agreement. Including SAG low budget day performers' rates, SAG low budget weekly rates, SAG background rates, SAG stand-in rates, and more. Pension and health fringes will be under the rate tables with per diem and other rates.

Performers' Rates -Low Budget

Stunt Coordinators' Rates -Low Budget

Background Actors' Rates -Low Budget

Special Ability Background Actors' Rates -Low Budget

Stand-Ins / Photo Doubles' Rates -Low Budget

Pension/Health/IA CF: 

21 % of gross for principals; 20.5 % for background 

Background minimum count :

First 30 union BG only; rest may be non‑union, stand-ins may be included in count.

For more details on Background Actor Rules.

Meal penalties:

• First half-hour, or fraction: $25• Second half-hour, or fraction: $35• Each half-hour after, or fraction: $50

Meal Break Timing:

1st-meal-break: within 6 hours from the first call.

2nd-meal-break: within 6 hours of being called back from the 1st-meal-break.

Each meal break must be no less than 30 minutes, but the Production can deduct actual time up to 1 hour spent at meals.

NDB (Non-Deductible Breakfasts): Performers may be given a NDB of 15 minutes free from all activity within 2 hours of the performer’s call time. Must be notated in the production report.

Per Diem and Accommodations:

Overnight locations, in addition to lodging, the Production must provide a per diem meal allowance to be paid before the day or week of work. These are only applicable if meals are not provided by the Production, such as on most non-shoot days.

Breakfast: $14.00Lunch: $21.00Dinner: $35.00

Full day = $70Note: Regardless of the time of call, the first major meal served may only be deducted at the lunch rate.

Forced‑call rest invasion: 

1 day or $900 (whichever is less) 

Must give a 56‑hr week‑end (may drop to 54 hrs on studio shoots). Breach = forced‑call penalty above.

Night premium:

None except ADR/looping = 10 % per straight‑time hr worked 8 pm‑6 am 

Moderate Low Budget Agreement (< $700,000)

Becoming a SAG-AFTRA signatory is the first step you need to take before you can start production on your moderate-low-budget agreement film to hire SAG-AFTRA actors. You will need to apply to be a SAG-AFTRA Signatory and follow the steps to get started.

Here is the list of contracts and agreements you will need to get started with a moderate-low-budget agreement project.

Below are all the rates for the SAG moderate low budget Agreement. Including SAG day performers' rates, SAG weekly rates, SAG background rates, SAG stand-in rates, and more. Pension and health fringes will be under the rate tables with per diem and other rates.

Performers' Rates -Moderate Low Budget

Stunt Performers' Rates -Moderate Low Budget

Stunt Coordinators' (< "Flat Deal" Minimum) Rates -Moderate Low Budget

Stunt Coordinators' (=“Flat Deal” ) Rates -Moderate Low Budget

Background Actors' Rates -Moderate Low Budget

Special Ability Background Actors' Rates -Moderate Low Budget

Stand-Ins / Photo Doubles' Rates -Moderate Low Budget

Pension/Health/IA CF: 

21 % of gross for principals; 20.5 % for background 

Background minimum count :

Avg 3 SAG-AFTRA background per production day.

For more details on Background Actor Rules.

Meal penalties:

• First half-hour, or fraction: $25• Second half-hour, or fraction: $35• Each half-hour after, or fraction : $50

Meal Break Timing:

1st-meal-break: within 6 hours from the first call.

2nd-meal-break: within 6 hours of being called back from the 1st-meal-break.

Each meal break must be no less than 30 minutes, but the Production can deduct actual time up to 1 hour spent at meals.

NDB (Non-Deductible Breakfasts): Performers may be given a NDB of 15 minutes free from all activity within 2 hours of the performer’s call time. Must be notated in the production report.

Per Diem and Accommodations:

Overnight locations, in addition to lodging, the Production must provide a per diem meal allowance to be paid before the day or week of work. These are only applicable if meals are not provided by the Production, such as on most non-shoot days.

Breakfast: $14.00Lunch: $21.00Dinner: $35.00

Full day = $70Note: Regardless of the time of call, the first major meal served may only be deducted at the lunch rate.

Forced‑call rest invasion: 

Performers must receive 12 hrs rest between workdays.

1 day rate or $900 (whichever is less) 

Must give a 56‑hr week‑end (may drop to 54 hrs on studio shoots). Breach = forced‑call penalty above.

Night premium:

None except ADR/looping = 10 % per straight‑time hr worked 8 pm‑6 am 

Ultra Low Budget Project - UPA (< $300,000)

Becoming a SAG-AFTRA signatory is the first step you need to take before you can start hiring cast for your ultra low budget agreement film. You will need to apply to be a SAG-AFTRA Signatory and follow each of the steps to get started.

This is a list of contracts and agreements you will need to get started with an ultra low budget project.

Below are all the rates for the SAG ultra low budget Agreement. Including SAG day performers' rates, SAG weekly rates, SAG background rates, SAG stand-in rates, and more. Pension and health fringes will be under the rate tables with per diem and other rates.

Performers' Rates - Moderate Low Budget

Stunt Coordinators' (<"Flat Deal" ) Rates - Moderate Low Budget

Stunt Coordinators' (=“Flat Deal” ) Rates - Moderate Low Budget

Pension/Health/IA CF: 

21 % of gross for principals; 20.5 % for background 

Meal penalties:

• First half-hour, or fraction: $25• Second half-hour, or fraction: $35• Each half-hour after, or fraction: $50

Meal Break Timing:

1st-meal-break: within 6 hours from the first call.

2nd-meal-break: within 6 hours of being called back from the 1st-meal-break.

Each meal break must be no less than 30 minutes, but the Production can deduct actual time up to 1 hour spent at meals.

NDB (Non-Deductible Breakfasts): Performers may be given a NDB of 15 minutes free from all activity within 2 hours of the performer’s call time. Must be notated in the production report.

Per Diem and Accommodations:

Overnight locations, in addition to lodging, the Production must provide a per diem meal allowance to be paid before the day or week of work. These are only applicable if meals are not provided by the Production, such as on most non-shoot days.

Breakfast: $14.00Lunch: $21.00Dinner: $35.00

Full day = $70Note: Regardless of the time of call, the first major meal served may only be deducted at the lunch rate.

Forced‑call rest invasion: 

Performers must receive 12 hrs rest between workdays.

Treat every invaded hour as a full extra day (at least $241).

Must give a 56‑hr week‑end (may drop to 54 hrs on studio shoots). Breach = forced‑call penalty above.

Short Project Agreement - SPA (< $50,000)

Becoming a SAG-AFTRA signatory is the first step you need to take before you can start hiring cast for your ultra low budget agreement film. You will need to apply to be a SAG-AFTRA Signatory and follow each of the steps to get started.

This is a list of contracts and agreements you will need to get started with an ultra low budget project.

Below are all the rates for the SAG short project agreement. Including SAG day performers' rates, SAG weekly rates, SAG background rates, SAG stand-in rates, and more. Pension and health fringes will be under the rate tables with per diem and other rates.

*Things To Know About Short Project Agreement

Up‑front actor pay: The producer and each performer or background actor can freely negotiate their starting pay for production, BUT it must comply with city, state, and federal minimum wage rules.

Stunt coordinators: Use the current “Schedule K‑I / K‑II / K‑III” rates from the main SAG‑AFTRA Basic Agreement for daily, weekly, or flat‑deal coordinators.

Deferred pay:

If the short is later sold or shown commercially, all deferred wages must be paid.

Minimum deferred amounts:

Principal performers: at least 20 % of the Basic Agreement day rate for each day worked.

Background actors: at least 75 % of the Basic Agreement day rate for each day worked.

*Performers' Rates Short Project Agreement

* Stunt Coordinators' (<"Flat Deal" ) Rates Short Project Agreement

Stunt Coordinators' (Employed on a “Flat Deal” Basis) Rates Short Project Agreement

*Background Actors' Rates Short Project Agreement

*Special Ability Background Actors

*Stand-Ins / Photo Doubles

Pension/Health/IA CF: 

21 % of gross for principals; 20.5 % for background 

Meal penalties:

• Each half-hour, or fraction: $25

Meal Break Timing:

1st-meal-break: within 6 hours from the first call.

2nd-meal-break: within 6 hours of being called back from the 1st-meal-break.

Each meal break must be no less than 30 minutes, but the Production can deduct actual time up to 1 hour spent at meals.

NDB (Non-Deductible Breakfasts): Performers may be given a NDB of 15 minutes free from all activity within 2 hours of the performer’s call time. Must be notated in the production report.

Per Diem and Accommodations:

Overnight locations, in addition to lodging, the Production must provide a per diem meal allowance to be paid before the day or week of work. These are only applicable if meals are not provided by the Production, such as on most non-shoot days.

Breakfast: $14.00Lunch: $21.00Dinner: $35.00

Full day = $70Note: Regardless of the time of call, the first major meal served may only be deducted at the lunch rate.

Forced‑call rest invasion: 

Performers must receive 12 hrs rest between workdays.

If an invaded hour pays as a full extra day.

Must give a 56‑hr week‑end (may drop to 54 hrs on studio shoots). Breach = forced‑call penalty above.

FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

What are the penalties I should be aware of for SAG actors?

What are SAG's overtime rates?

What are per‑diem & hold days rates & rules?

Travel day to or from a distant location (no services rendered) still costs one full day of pay per performer.

Per‑diem M&IE (TV/Theatrical): $14 breakfast / $21 lunch / $35 dinner – $70 total if you don’t provide meals.

Hold days (idle days away from home) must be paid at the contracted day or weekly rate.

Tip: dropping one shoot day in the middle of a distant‑location week rarely saves money—everyone is still on payroll.

What are the rates for SAG bumps?

How do I cast and manage Background Actors and Extras?

Productions can cast union and non-union background actors by reaching out to Topsheet or providers like Central Casting.

Topsheet provides fantastic tools for background actor handling on set, where you can schedule them by group, check them in via their phone GPS, and wrap hundreds of background actors in one click. These tools built into the Topsheet Payroll app make it much easier to handle your background actors. You can use Topsheet payroll for all your union and non-union cast and crew or just your background actors, whatever works best for your production.

Are there any union fees & fringe caps?

Employer Pension/Health caps apply once a performer hits $500k covered earnings in the contract year—contributions stop, but wages keep accruing.

Member costs that often flow back to the producer up‑front

National initiation fee $3,000 (new members)

Annual base dues $236.60 plus 1.575 % work dues up to $1 M earnings (you’ll escrow this in the first checks).

Residual & Re‑use Triggers

Feature films: residuals start 30 days after first exhibition; escrow the first cycle when talent works.

Series regulars & guest stars: fixed residual formulas kick in after network, basic‑cable, or SVOD reuse.

Budget at least 10 % of cast payroll as a placeholder until distribution is locked.

What do I need to know about having a minor working on set?

You must get a work permit from the minor's school district in most states.

You must create the minor their own Coogan Trust Account with a bank. Coogan‑law states (CA & NY) require 15 % of the minor’s gross to be deposited into a blocked trust.

California studio teacher runs $250–$300/day plus kit fee—budget one per ten minors.

Are there any COVID rules still in place for SAG?

While not contractual, most productions reimburse talent for mandated PCR or antigen tests ($75–$125 each) and pay a ¼‑day if testing occurs off‑set. Keep a “medical” line separate from stunt safety tests.

How do I calculate SAG fringes?

Fringes – use 21 % (PH&W + payroll tax) on union wages, 19.8 % on commercials.Contingency – add 10 % of total cast wages for penalties, bumps, and unforeseen premiums.

Bottom Line

Building these items into your initial budget avoids painful surprises at wrap—and keeps Accounting from raiding contingency when “golden time” or a rain tower hits. If in doubt, call SAG‑AFTRA Business Affairs or your payroll company (Topsheet, of course) before the first day of principal photography.

Why these numbers matter

Budgeting accuracy – Even a one‑hour schedule slide can push a day performer past the OT ceiling.

Fringe planning – Pension/Health caps differ by contract; verify large flat deals against the ceiling table.

Background ratio – Failure to meet minimum BG counts (especially on Modified‑Low) can revoke your incentive and retro‑charge scale.

Questions?

Updated 21 July 2025.