The Broadway actor salary floor in 2026 is set by Actors’ Equity, and according to Backstage, the weekly minimum under the current Production Contract was $2,717 and rises to $2,799 on September 28, 2026, with further 3% increases in later years. That works out to about $145,500 a year if an actor worked all 52 weeks at the new minimum (our arithmetic), though few contracts run that long. Above the minimum, pay varies widely, and star salaries are mostly press reports rather than confirmed numbers.
This guide explains the minimum, the add-on payments that raise it, what is known about star pay, and what the headline figures leave out. The core numbers come from a September 2026 Backstage report, and we flag where we could not confirm them against Equity’s own documents.
Quick answers
- Broadway weekly minimum: $2,717 under the contract that took effect September 29, 2025; $2,799 from September 28, 2026 (Backstage).
- Contract term: through September 24, 2028 (Backstage); BroadwayWorld reported members’ ratification on October 30, 2025.
- Annual raise: 3% each remaining year (Backstage).
- Full-year equivalent: about $145,548 at $2,799 for 52 weeks (our arithmetic).
- Star pay: reported at $100,000 to $150,000 a week for a few headliners; these are press reports.
Broadway Actor Salary in 2026: The Equity Minimum
Broadway performers are covered by Actors’ Equity Association’s Production Contract with the Broadway League. Backstage’s September 15, 2026 guide says the contract in effect from September 29, 2025, through September 24, 2028, sets the weekly minimum at $2,717, rising to $2,799 on September 28, 2026, and then by 3% in each remaining year. The exact figures for later years are not given in that report.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Weekly minimum, from September 29, 2025 | $2,717 |
| Weekly minimum, from September 28, 2026 | $2,799 |
| Increase between the two (our arithmetic) | about 3.0% |
| 52 weeks at $2,717 (our arithmetic) | $141,284 |
| 52 weeks at $2,799 (our arithmetic) | $145,548 |
| Next 3% raise, if applied to $2,799 (our estimate) | about $2,883 |
Two cautions. Backstage notes that few contracts run 52 weeks, so the annual number is a ceiling, not a typical income. And the $2,883 figure is only our estimate of what another 3% would produce; Equity’s published schedule may round differently.
How the Contract Was Agreed
BroadwayWorld reported on October 30, 2025, that Equity members approved the new Production Contract with the Broadway League, which governs Broadway productions through September 2028. Equity’s Al Vincent Jr. said the deal made “progress across all of Equity’s priority areas,” which the article lists as safe staffing, humane scheduling and sustainable working conditions, and the settlement addresses stabilizing the Equity-League Health Fund. Mediators from Cornell University’s Scheinman Institute helped reach the agreement. That article does not give the wage figures, so the dollar amounts above rest on Backstage.
Add-On Pay: What Raises a Broadway Salary Above Scale
Backstage lists extra weekly payments, citing Playbill’s most recent public figures, that can be added to the base minimum:
| Role or duty | Extra weekly pay |
|---|---|
| Dance captain | $464.60 |
| Assistant dance captain | $232.30 |
| Fight captain | $100 |
| Rider (year-long exclusivity) | $175 |
| Chorus role or specialty | $25 |
| Swing | 6% of base salary (about $163 at $2,717) |
| Partial swing | $20 |
| Understudy, principal | $62 |
| Understudy, chorus | $17.50 |
Our arithmetic: 6% of the new $2,799 minimum is about $168 a week. Backstage cautions that Equity publishes its full schedule only in the member rulebook, so this list may be incomplete and the amounts may differ for the current year.
Broadway Star Salaries: What Is Reported
Above the minimum, pay is negotiated, and the public numbers come from press reports. Backstage cites these examples and says it has not confirmed them:
- Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick: over $100,000 a week each for The Producers (2001).
- Hugh Jackman: reportedly about $100,000 a week for The Music Man (2022), plus a share of box-office receipts. Backstage’s text shows “$100,00,” which looks like a typo, so we treat the figure as approximate.
- Bette Midler: reportedly $150,000 a week for Hello, Dolly! (2017).
Backstage describes box-office cuts as rare, usually limited to developers or celebrities. These figures describe a handful of headliners, not typical pay.
Broadway vs. Screen Minimums (Our Comparison)
The SAG-AFTRA weekly minimum for TV and theatrical work in 2026-27 is $4,456, according to the union’s wage table. The new Broadway weekly minimum of $2,799 is about 63% of that figure (our arithmetic: $2,799 ÷ $4,456). The two numbers come from different contracts covering different kinds of work, so this is a rough illustration, not a like-for-like comparison. For what happens to screen pay after a show airs, see our guide to actor residuals.
What the Weekly Minimum Doesn’t Tell You
- It is gross pay. Taxes and any representation fees come out before an actor takes home money.
- It covers Broadway’s Production Contract. Off-Broadway, touring, and regional theatre follow different agreements, and we did not review them.
- Rehearsal and per diem. Backstage’s guide does not give figures for rehearsal pay, per diem, or stage-manager minimums, so we do not state any.
- Run length varies. Shows close, and a weekly rate only pays while the actor is employed.
Related Reading
For an actor who won a Tony in 2025, see our Sarah Snook and Dave Lawson relationship timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Broadway actors make per week?
At least the Equity minimum: $2,717 from September 2025 and $2,799 from September 28, 2026, according to Backstage. Many actors earn more through add-ons and negotiated deals.
How much do Broadway actors make per year?
At the new minimum, about $145,548 if they worked 52 weeks (our arithmetic), but few contracts run that long, so actual yearly income is usually lower.
Will Broadway minimum pay go up again?
Backstage says the contract provides 3% increases in each remaining year, through the contract’s end in September 2028.
Do swings and understudies get extra pay?
Yes. Backstage lists a swing at 6% of base salary, a principal understudy at $62 a week, and a chorus understudy at $17.50, citing Playbill.
How much do Broadway stars make?
Press reports put top stars at $100,000 to $150,000 a week, such as Bette Midler for Hello, Dolly! and Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick for The Producers. These are unconfirmed.
When does the current Broadway contract end?
September 24, 2028, per Backstage.
Where can I find the official rates?
Actors’ Equity publishes full terms in its member rulebook, and the union’s website has current contract information.
Broadway Actor Salary 2026: Summary
The Broadway actor salary floor is $2,717 a week, rising to $2,799 on September 28, 2026, under a contract that runs through September 2028 with 3% annual raises. Add-ons such as swing, dance captain, and understudy pay can lift a paycheck, while star salaries of $100,000 or more a week are press reports rather than confirmed numbers. The weekly minimum is gross, applies to the Production Contract, and is not an annual income guarantee.
