How Much Does an Actor Make on Broadway? Real Pay Rates in 2025

Ever wonder how much an actor actually takes home after a night on Broadway? It’s not the glamour you see on posters. The truth is, pay on Broadway varies wildly - from barely enough to cover rent to six-figure annual incomes - and it all depends on who you are, what role you play, and which union rules apply.

Minimum Pay for Broadway Actors in 2025

The baseline pay for any actor in a Broadway show is set by Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union that represents stage performers. In 2025, the minimum weekly salary for a principal actor (someone with lines and a named role) is $2,217 per week. That’s before taxes, before overtime, before any bonuses. For ensemble members - the singers and dancers who fill out scenes but don’t have speaking parts - the minimum is $1,960 per week.

These numbers aren’t negotiable. Every Broadway show, whether it’s a blockbuster musical like Wicked or a small-scale play like The Piano Lesson, must pay at least this much. It’s the law. But here’s the catch: these are weekly minimums. Most actors don’t work seven days a week. Shows typically run eight performances a week - four shows on Wednesday and Saturday, and two each on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. That means an actor earning the minimum gets paid for eight shows, no more.

What About Lead Actors and Stars?

If you’re the star of the show - the person whose name is above the title - you’re not bound by the union minimum. Top-tier actors negotiate their own contracts. That’s where the real money is.

Actors like Idina Menzel, Lin-Manuel Miranda, or Cynthia Erivo, when they headline a Broadway show, can earn anywhere from $50,000 to over $100,000 per week. Some deals include a percentage of the box office, meaning if the show sells out every night, their paycheck grows. In 2024, a few lead actors in Hadestown and MJ: The Musical reportedly made over $120,000 in a single week during holiday rush periods.

But here’s the reality: less than 5% of Broadway actors ever reach that level. Most are working actors who rely on multiple jobs to make ends meet. One actor I spoke to - who played a supporting role in Aladdin - said he worked three shifts a week at a coffee shop just to cover his health insurance premiums.

How Pay Differs Between Musicals and Plays

Musicals and plays pay differently, even when the roles are similar. Musicals require more training - singing, dancing, choreography - so they often pay slightly more. But that’s not always the case.

For example, a lead in a Shakespeare play like Hamlet might earn the same $2,217 minimum as a lead in Chicago. But the rehearsal period for a musical is longer - often six to eight weeks - and actors get paid for those rehearsals too. Plays usually have shorter rehearsals, sometimes just three weeks. So even if the weekly pay is the same, a musical actor might earn more over the course of a season.

Also, understudies in musicals often get paid more because they need to learn complex choreography and vocal arrangements. A musical understudy can earn up to $1,800 per week just to be ready to step in, even if they never go on stage.

Benefits: Health Insurance and Retirement

Union pay isn’t just about the paycheck. Actors Equity guarantees health insurance and a pension fund for members who meet certain work thresholds. To qualify for health coverage, you need to work at least 20 weeks in a calendar year on a Broadway or Off-Broadway show. That’s about five months of steady work.

Many actors don’t hit that mark. If you’re only in one show for 12 weeks, you won’t get insurance. That’s why so many Broadway actors take side gigs - teaching, freelance work, even driving for ride-share apps. One dancer told me she taught ballet to kids on weekends just to keep her insurance active.

The pension fund is another perk. Every time you work a Broadway show, a portion of your pay goes into a retirement account managed by the union. It’s not huge - most actors retire with $20,000 to $50,000 total - but it’s something. And it’s rare in the entertainment world.

How Long Do Broadway Runs Last?

A Broadway show’s lifespan affects your income more than you think. Most shows close within a year. Only about 15% run longer than two years. A few - like The Lion King or Phantom of the Opera - run for decades.

If you land a role in a hit that runs five years, you’re one of the lucky few. That means five years of steady pay, health insurance, and pension contributions. But if your show closes after six months? You’re back to auditioning, often with no savings.

Many actors plan their careers around this. They’ll take a low-paying off-Broadway gig in the spring, then audition for a Broadway show in the fall. If they get it, they save everything they earn. If they don’t, they rely on unemployment benefits or gigs in regional theaters.

What About Understudies and Swings?

Understudies and swings are the unsung heroes of Broadway. Understudies learn one or two principal roles and step in when someone is sick or on vacation. Swings cover multiple ensemble roles - sometimes up to six - and jump in whenever someone is out.

Understudies earn a base salary of $1,960 per week (same as ensemble) plus a $100 weekly stipend for learning the principal role. Swings get $1,960 plus a $50 weekly swing premium. But here’s the kicker: if you’re a swing and you go on stage three nights in a row, you get paid extra for each performance you perform - usually $200 to $300 per show.

That’s how some actors make more than the lead. I know one swing who earned $15,000 in a single month because the lead actor was injured and the swing went on for 14 shows. That’s more than the weekly minimum for most principals.

Is Broadway Pay Fair?

For the union minimums? Yes - they’re among the highest in the U.S. for live theater. But the system is stacked. The top 1% of actors earn 80% of the total income. The rest are fighting for scraps.

Most actors work 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week. They’re on their feet for hours. They sing, dance, cry, and scream - sometimes while sick. And they do it for a paycheck that, for many, doesn’t even cover rent in Manhattan.

There’s no safety net. No paid sick days. No vacation time. If you miss a show, you lose a week’s pay. That’s why so many actors leave after five years. It’s not the lack of talent. It’s the lack of stability.

What You Can Expect as a New Broadway Actor

If you’re starting out, here’s what to expect:

• Your first Broadway job will likely be ensemble or swing - pay: $1,960/week
• You’ll probably work 8 shows a week, no days off
• You’ll need a side job for health insurance and rent
• You’ll audition for 20+ shows before landing one
• You’ll spend months without work between gigs
• If you’re lucky, you’ll get a role in a long-running show - and then you’ll be set for years

There’s no shortcut. No TikTok fame that turns into a Broadway contract. It’s hard work, long hours, and low odds. But for those who stay, the feeling of walking on stage under those lights - knowing you’re part of something live, real, and fleeting - is worth it.

Next Steps for Aspiring Broadway Actors

If you’re serious about Broadway, here’s what to do:

1. Join Actors’ Equity Association - you need to be a member to work on Broadway
2. Build a strong resume with regional theater and Off-Broadway credits
3. Take singing, dancing, and acting classes - Broadway demands all three
4. Network - auditions are often filled through referrals
5. Save money - you’ll go months without work
6. Get health insurance through a spouse, parent, or private plan - don’t wait for the union

Broadway isn’t a job. It’s a lifestyle. And if you’re willing to live it - the long hours, the rejections, the uncertainty - then the stage might just be worth it.