In the Australian acting industry, earnings vary as wildly as the roles actors play. One minute you might be lurking in the shadows of a stage playing the second sword carrier to the right on a profit-share arrangement, and then the next minute you could be booked on an advert with a buyout of AU $20,000. An actor can never know how many roles they’ll secure in a year, meaning their income can vary dramatically from one to the next.
While other people in industry – front-of-house staff, studio managers, and artistic directors, for instance – have salaries, an actor is paid per job, either compensated with a bulk sum or a day or weekly rate. Those who secure a role in a long-running TV drama, such as Neighbours or Home and Away, have a more reliable regular income that could last several years. Still, in Australia, no matter how short the job, most actors are classed as employees, not independent contractors, which gives them access to holiday pay, overtime, and insurance. So, how much do actors get paid in Australia?
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The Australian government's Labour Market Insights website doesn’t specify weekly pay for actors due to the variable nature of their work hours and conditions. However, industry discussions in Facebook groups suggest that entry-level actors can expect to earn anywhere between AU $20 to AU $100 per hour depending on the gig, with more seasoned actors commanding significantly higher rates.
Novice actors often start at the lower end of the pay scale and audition for small theatrical productions and indie films. If they’re lucky, they might get seen for a walk-on role in a commercial. Meanwhile, established actors in high-budget TV shows and feature films can earn substantial amounts, sometimes raking in thousands of dollars per episode or project.
To get an accurate overview, it is worth looking at the agreed rates that the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) has negotiated. The rates are broken down into pay guidelines for commercials, television, theatre, and film.
Commercials: For a television or digital commercial, you can expect a minimum call time of four hours and an hourly rate of AU $45.82, so the minimum you should earn for being on a commercial set is AU $183.28. Note that this payment is separate from a content-usage buyout, which should be negotiated by you or your agent separately.
Television: Get cast in a television show and you can expect a weekly income of at least AU $1,074.32, and this number should increase if you record more than three episodes in one week. If you are given a bit part (a small role with no more than six lines), then you can expect a weekly salary of AU $990.90. If you book a few days of filming a TV show, then you can expect a day rate starting from AU $257.84 (AU $249.66).
Theatre: You can expect a weekly income between AU $1,198.40 or AU $249.67 per performance. Rehearsals should be paid at $55.91 per hour, with a minimum call of two hours.
Film: Book a feature film and you can expect a weekly rate starting at AU $1,086.51 (AU $946.88 for a double or a stand-in), and if you are engaged by the day, then the minimum rate set by MEAA is AU $304.21 (AU $225.82 for a double or a stand-in). Of course, many actors starting out are happy to take part in low-budget or student films for minimum pay in exchange for showreel material.
Remember that if you work with an agent, their cut, which is usually 10%, will be deducted from the above rates of pay.
Project type and budget
The type of project an actor lands can significantly impact their paycheck. Commercial work often pays well thanks to large advertising budgets, but these roles may be sporadic. In contrast, theatre productions may offer a steadier income over the duration of the performance run, though the pay might be lower.
Acting experience
An actor's previous work can influence their marketability and play a substantial role in determining their pay. More notable actors – usually those with influential agents – tend to negotiate higher rates, reflecting their ability to draw audiences.
Union status
Being a member of the MEAA gives you access to its support and advice, including guidance on pay. The MEAA can help you negotiate fair wages and working conditions – and retrieve payment when it is withheld.
Royalties are payments made to actors for reruns, syndication, and digital streaming of content they've previously worked on. Not all projects offer royalties, and when they do, the amounts can vary based on factors like the actor's role, the project's success, and the distribution channels.
Royalties are more common in film and television than in theatre. The specifics of these payments are often outlined in the initial contract and provide passive income that offers actors a financial cushion, especially between active projects. When actors get paid royalties up front, it is known as a buyout, and this usage fee is negotiated in addition to the day rates listed above.
In essence, the rate of pay for an actor in Australia can be varied and unpredictable. It’s no wonder actors frequently refer to their craft as a labour of love.
