From Golden Age icons like Shirley Temple all the way to today’s young Hollywood stars like Samir Royal, child actors throughout cinematic history don’t only command audience attention—they can command a substantial paycheck as well. But behind these success stories lies a complex compensation system based on production type, budget, and experience level. While some child actors may earn little for indie projects, others on major network shows can garner impressive sums. Here’s what you need to know about child actor earnings.
For union shows under SAG-AFTRA rates, all performers working on union television productions receive a base daily rate of approximately $1,204 for either half-hour or one-hour shows. For a full week of work, the rate increases to about $4,180. Usually, a young person starting out will make one of those rates, scale payment, plus an added 10% for commission due to their agent.
The same rates are true for full-budget theatrical films, but there are a number of different rates for films that are based on the budget. They range all the way from deferred payment (nothing until and if the film is sold) to $241 and up a day. Commercials generally pay the same day rate as film and TV.
Live theater has a similar range. Scale payments for Equity projects on Broadway are in excess of $2,439 a week. Off-Broadway and regional theaters pay less. Some tiny Off-Off-Broadway houses pay very, very little. These rates are based on performing eight shows a week, which is the standard number.
At the upper end of the spectrum, a select few child actors earn over $1 million annually, though these cases represent a tiny minority of working child performers.
How to Become a Child ActorLike their adult counterparts, child actors receive a percentage of their earnings, usually via check or direct deposit into their bank account, with 10% of gross earnings going to their agent. Unlike with adult actors, however, 15% of a child actor’s gross pay must be placed in a Coogan Account in states with child performer protection laws. The Coogan Account is a blocked trust account that cannot be accessed until the child reaches 18.
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