
Ever wonder how much it pays to come back from the dead (several times over), learn that your baby was switched at birth, or discover you have an evil twin committing nefarious crimes in your name? Although the lives of soap opera characters may be melodramatic, the paychecks earned by their actors tend to be more down-to-earth. In this article, we’ll take a look at what soap opera actors earn, from entry-level performers to superstars.
$55,000 per year: Soap opera stars earn, on average, an annual salary of just over $52,000, according to Zippia. ZipRecruiter provides a similar figure at just under $57,000.
$1,517 per day: Soap operas are covered under the SAG-AFTRA Netcode contract, ensuring performers earn daily minimum rates. In June 2024, SAG and producers agreed to extend the current contract for one year, with a 7% increase in pay, meaning daily minimum rates land at $1,517 for soap operas 60 minutes and longer.
$1,000–$5,000 per episode: New stars usually earn between $1,000 and $1,500 per episode, and regular cast members between $3,000 and $5,000, according to Tara Dugan at the Things. Performing on the same show for over 10 years can mean a nice paycheck of $5,000 or more per episode, writes Jessica Tzikas at the List.
Generally speaking, soap opera actors earn lower salaries than their primetime television and film counterparts, though they do tend to have a more consistent workload and long-term career stability due to the frequency of soap opera production schedules.
Experience and tenure: With soap opera acting, the longer you’re in the game, the more you’ll get paid. And actors who keep on keepin’ on can also expect residuals when their episodes are rebroadcast or aired on other platforms.
Popularity and screen time: The great thing about a soap opera is that once you’re in, you have a chance to develop a much-beloved character for the entirety of your career, especially if you’re lucky enough to get cast on a popular show. The more popular your character becomes, the more episodes they’ll appear in—and count that double if they happen to have an evil twin lurking around!
Negotiation and contract terms: During your negotiations, you’ll iron out several terms that will have a long-term impact on what you’re able to make: Is it a multi-year contract? Is it for a lead role or a recurring role? Are there any performance-based bonuses? How many episodes are guaranteed in the contract? Will you receive residuals from syndication? Make sure to read your contract carefully and review it with your agent and/or manager and your lawyer.

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Here’s a sampling of some of the top-paid soap opera actors and their estimated net worths:
- Lauralee Bell (estimated net worth $200 million): Noted as the No. 1 earner on all of the top-paid soap opera royalty lists is Bell, a longtime cast member of “The Young and the Restless.” This is due, in no small part, to the fact that she is the daughter of the show’s creators and began her career on the show at just 13 years old. During her tenure, she’s filmed thousands of episodes and appeared on sister show “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
- Kelly Ripa (estimated net worth $120 million): Likely the most recognizable name from this list, Ripa began her career on “All My Children” and stayed there for 12 years. After that, she went on to appear in other television shows, but she’s best known for her talk show “Live With Kelly and Mark” (formerly known as “Live with Regis and Kelly”).
- Susan Lucci (estimated net worth $80 million): Lucci appeared on over 1,500 episodes of “All My Children” before it came to an end in 2011. Her work there scored her 20 daytime Emmy nominations—and, eventually, one win.