Actors, Directors, and Producers - Earnings Earnings Minimum salaries, hours of work, and other conditions of employment are covered in collective bargaining agreements between producers of shows and unions representing workers in this field. Most stage directors belong to the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and film and television directors belong to the Directors Guild of America. Of course, each actor or director may negotiate for a salary higher than the minimum. Eight performances amount to a week's work on the stage, and additional performances are paid for as overtime.
Actors usually work long hours during rehearsals.
Once the show opens, they have more regular hours, working about 24 hours a week. In addition, actors receive contributions to their health and pension plans and additional compensation for reruns. Earnings from acting are low because employment is so irregular. Therefore, many actors must supplement their incomes from acting by holding other jobs. Some well-known actors have salary rates well above the minimums, and the salaries of the few top stars are many times the figures cited, creating a false impression that all actors are highly paid.