Rates, 2026
What should an actor charge in a major city?
About $775 a day for a actor who is working and booked in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin. $575 in the first years, $950 when senior. A spot, session plus 12 months digital usage runs about $2,125. Also called: commercial actor, brand video, ugc actor, on-camera talent.
Other markets: New York or LA · remote · a smaller market
First years
$575
a day · $70 an hour
Working, booked
$775
a day · $95 an hour
Senior, sought after
$950
a day · $125 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$775 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$95 per hour
- A spot, session plus 12 months digital usagethe session and the buyout, priced together$2,125 per project
Sold by the day, a project fee. The day is the unit; half days run 60%.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- Session day, non-union$500 to $1,025 per day
- Half day$300 to $600 per half day
- Usage, 12 months digital and social, national75 to 130% of the session
- Usage, broadcast or streaming TV, 12 months150 to 250% of the session
- Perpetuity, all media250 to 400% of the session
- UGC video, delivered to the brand$175 to $425 per video
- Category exclusivity10 to 15% of the session, per month
How the number is made
Actors at this level in this market day at about $775 ($600 to $1,200 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
A spot, session plus 12 months digital usage runs $1,500 to $3,500 and takes about 10 hours of your time; at your hourly that is $950. The number is the higher of the two, because the client is buying the outcome, not the hours.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a actor in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin?
- About $775 a day for someone working and booked, $575 in the first years, $950 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- How much is a spot, session plus 12 months digital usage?
- $2,125 at a working level in this market. The client is buying the outcome, so the price is the higher of what the market pays for it and what your hours in it are worth.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
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