Soap opera actors earn money based on daily salary, per episode and per show. Daily pay is calculated as a percentage of their weekly and bi-weekly salaries, which means these performers earn more throughout the season when they have higher episodic guarantees.
Soap opera actors may have to pay for acting lessons, and work with little or no pay at first. Many soap operas compensate their actors well, especially once they are established as performers. In some cases, viewers tune in because of the show’s stars; this adds value to their careers as actors and makes them desirable to producers.
Average soap opera actors’ salary is around $10,000.The highest actor’s salary is around $25,000. For example, according to Tim J. McElroy’s soap opera actor salary calculator the average salary of a soap opera actor is $23,398.
Salary For Soap Opera Actors Overview
Soap opera actors are among the highest-paid television actors in the United States, and their salaries can reach into the millions. Soap operas are long-running television dramas that are often set in a hospital or a law office, where characters face dramatic situations on a daily basis.
The most popular soap operas include General Hospital, The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives. These shows have been airing since the 1970s and have loyal followings that keep them going strong today.
Soap opera actors can make anywhere from $75,000 to $200,000 per year depending on their experience level, but some stars earn up to $1 million each year. The highest paid soap opera actors earn eight figures annually between salary and endorsements deals with brands like Cover Girl cosmetics or Hallmark greeting cards.
What is Soap opera?
A drama serial that revolves around the relatable events that are broadcasted on television and radio is how a soap opera can be described. These shows are filled with melodrama, domestic situations, and sentiments which makes them even more famous among the housemakers. The name soap opera came into existence when soap manufacturers used to sponsor radio dramas. Soap operas are generally described as the show that ends the episode with a hook that the upcoming episode will be offering something more. It has a loop to engage the audience. The first-ever soap opera is considered to be “Painted Dreams” which premiered on WGN radio Chicago on the 20th of October 1930. The plot of soap operas nearly revolves around relationships, emotions, family or personal drama, romance, hate, and relatable kinds of stuff. Soap opera usually focuses on day-to-day situations. The
How much do soap opera stars make?
The earning of soap opera stars is based on some basics like in which soap the actor works, if they are the lead actor or supporting one, the popularity of the soap, how many lines do they have, and how much it earns, how much the producers are willing to pay, and if you are popular enough to be offered that much of fortune. The popularity of the show affects the earnings as the popularity brings money to the makers and they offer some part of it to the actors and workers. The lead actors are paid more than the supportive ones, the popularity and the name of the actor depend on how much the makers will offer. This might change for some particular persons or group which is a con, which would be discussed too.
The average earning of soap stars is $57,100. On average, the actors earn $1000 for an episode while the supporting actors can have $200 per episode. But all these earnings are not that comfortable as the casts and crews are easily replaceable. Their source of income is not a permanent one. Once you are established you are worth earning a standard amount of money. But that might take a long time and it has a difficult path to follow. Being established provides you the advantage in earning as you can earn up to $3,000 per episode. Some of them even earn $5,000 per episode, the number of people that earn that much is not that much though.
Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon are the highest-paid persons in the television industry as they are paid $2 million for “The Morning Show”. This amount may seem less but that amount can lead you to a great net worth. The soap actors have assets worth millions of dollars. The luxuries that came along with the profession are not just a few, the stars are surrounded by fame and spotlights, the gathering with influential peoples, and the list goes on.
characters are shown in a more familiar way that makes them more attached to the viewers.
Average Soap Actor Salary
The Simply Hired career and salary website offers salary information related specifically to actors of soap opera television programs. In June of 2011, Simply Hired reports that though it may vary considerably, the overall national average yearly salary for soap opera actors is about £57,850. Soap Auditions broke it down per episode, stating that in 2009 a principal actor on an American soap earned a minimum or £593 for a one-our show. With as many as 300 shows taped each year, the actor would have the potential to earn as much as £178,035 per year, providing they appeared in every show. The Daily Motion website reports that featured actors can make a minimum of £910 per episode in 2011.
- The Simply Hired career and salary website offers salary information related specifically to actors of soap opera television programs.
- In June of 2011, Simply Hired reports that though it may vary considerably, the overall national average yearly salary for soap opera actors is about £57,850.
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Minimal Wages
Inexperienced actors, supporting roles and infrequently participating characters may expect to receive compensation far below the estimated averages for soap opera stars. According to the Soap Auditions website, soap opera actors who deliver five speaking lines or less on camera only receive £258 per one-hour show, or £210 for acting in a half-hour show. Background actors with no direct to camera lines at all only earn £93 for an hour-long show or £72 for appearing as an extra in a half-hour show.
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Advancement
A career acting in soap operas often opens doors to advancement opportunities, or at very least the potential to watch your salary grow as your job description remains the same. Actress Susan Lucci of ABC’s “All My Children” reportedly makes more than £0.6 million per year portraying “Erica Kane” — the same job she has had since 1970. Many soap stars advance to become television and film stars, which significantly increases their income. The Celebrity Networth website reports that former “Days of Our Lives” star turned film actress, Vivica Fox, is now worth more than £3,900,000, and “One Life to Live’s” Mark Consuelos is worth £5,200,000. Eric Braeden of “The Young and The Restless” — and the film “Titanic” — is reported to be worth more than £16 million in 2011.
- A career acting in soap operas often opens doors to advancement opportunities, or at very least the potential to watch your salary grow as your job description remains the same.
- Actress Susan Lucci of ABC’s “All My Children” reportedly makes more than £0.6 million per year portraying “Erica Kane” — the same job she has had since 1970.
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Union Actors
Unionised soap stars with regular speaking parts can typically be guaranteed a certain amount of pay for each day that they are on the set. According to BLS, an agreement made between the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in 2009 states that all union actors with speaking parts must be guaranteed a minimum daily wage of at least £508. Benefits and royalties for syndication and reruns may also be applied.
