2025 SAG Agreements & Rates: A Complete Overview
Behind every successful production is exceptional talent—whether it’s an A-list celebrity or a rising star, the right performers bring stories to life. But hiring union talent means understanding SAG-AFTRA agreements, which can often feel like a maze of terms, rates, and requirements.
Whether you're producing a national commercial, a digital campaign, or theatrical feature, each SAG-AFTRA agreement provides a structured framework that ensures fair compensation while giving producers the flexibility to hire top-tier talent.
In this blog, we’ll break down key SAG-AFTRA agreements, outlining their specific terms and rates to help you navigate the process with confidence. Let’s make union compliance seamless—so you can focus on creating outstanding content.
SAG-AFTRA Agreements & Rates: An Overview
SAG-AFTRA offers a range of agreements designed to ensure fair working conditions across various types of productions. The contract outlines pay structure, including the day rate, weekly rate, pension, health benefits and any additional fees required for compliance when working with talent. In this blog, we’ll break down rates for key contracts, including:
Commercial Agreement
New Media Agreement
Interactive Agreement
Television Agreement
Theatrical Agreement
Let’s take a closer look at each of these agreements from a glance:
Please note these rates apply for principal talent only.
| Agreement | Project Type | Day Rate | Weekly Rate | Pension & Health | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Agreement | TV, digital, radio, and theatrical commercials | $783.10 | N/A | 20.5% of total wages | Residuals apply, weekend/holiday premiums available |
| New Media Agreement | Digital content for platforms like YouTube, TikTok | $421.40 *Rates from Moderate Low Budget Agreement |
$1,463.00 | 21% | Budget-based tiered structure |
| Interactive Agreement | Video games, VR, interactive media | $1,102.00 | $3,825.25 | 21% | Covers voice actors, motion capture, and stunt performers |
| Television Agreement | Episodic TV (streaming & network) | $1,204.00 *Rates for major role performer in one episode |
$4,180.00 | 21% | Rates vary for series regulars based on # of episodes |
| Theatrical Agreement | Feature films (theatrical release) | $1,204.00 | $4,180.00 | 21% | Lower-budget tiers available for indie films |
Below, we’ll outline the specific terms, rates, and key considerations for each of these agreements to help you seamlessly navigate contracts when hiring principal talent.
2025 SAG-AFTRA Commercial Agreement
The SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract covers commercials; a short advertising message under three minutes in length that are used in either television, theatrical, radio and new media. Commercials include narration, dialogue, songs or jingles which mentions the advertisers name, product or services.
When hiring principal talent for commercial projects, producers must pay them daily wages, residuals, pension and health contributions along with other additional fees such as weekend and holiday pay. Below we will break down several fees:
Session fee: $783.10 for on camera principal on a 8-hour shoot
Residuals: Residuals vary based on the role of the performer, where the project will live and for how long.
Pension and health: Producers are required to pay the pension health plan and a fee of 20.5% of the total wages to the performer.
Weekend and Holiday fee: Weekend and holiday pay are paid at double time. Overtime is time and a half for hours 9 and 10, and double time 11 hours and beyond.
Producers must stay up to date with SAG-AFTRA Commercials Agreements, as they are revised every three years. The current contract is set to expire later this year.
We continuously keep advertisers and producers informed about the latest updates regarding union talent. Subscribe now and stay tuned on the upcoming SAG-AFTRA Commercial rates set to take effect this year.
2025 SAG-AFTRA New Media Agreements
New Media agreements cover film projects that are intended to be released on new media platforms such as Tik Tok, Instagram, and Youtube.
There are different types of New Media Contracts, including:
1. New Media Agreement
The New Media Agreement covers original projects created exclusively for new media platforms.
SAG day rate (35% of scale): $421.40 / day
SAG weekly scale: $1463.00 / week
2. Moderate Low Budget Agreement
This agreement covers films shot within the US with a budget less than $700,000.
SAG day rate (35% of scale): $421.40 / day
SAG weekly scale: $1463.00 / week
3. Ultra Low Budget Agreement
The Ultra Low Budget Agreement covers films shot within the US with a budget no greater than $300,000.
SAG day rate (20% of scale): $241.00
4. Short Project Agreement
The Short Project Agreement covers films shot within the US with a budget no greater than $50,000 and a total run time of 40 minutes.
Compensations to principal talent under this agreement can be negotiated but may not be less than 20% of scale under the Basic Agreement. If there's a conflict between the rate sheet and the agreement, the following takes priority.
SAG day rate (20% of scale): $421.40 / day
Pension and health contribution: 21%
5. Micro Budget Agreement
The Micro Budget Agreement covers films shot within the US with a budget $20,000 or less. This project must be filmed within the US, live and can be scripted or unscripted. Projects under this agreement can be exhibited at:
Film festivals
Free to the consumer new media (AVOD)
Public access television
In the classroom
Compensations to principal talent under this agreement are negotiated between the producer and the performer.
2025 SAG-AFTRA Interactive Agreements
The Interactive Media agreement includes video games, computer games, virtual reality games and some apps that the user can interact and manipulate. The Interactive agreement rates are based on the type of performer, the number of performers and duration of the session.
SAG day rate: $1,102.00 / per day
SAG weekly rate: $3,825.25
2025 SAG-AFTRA Television Agreement
The SAG-AFTRA Television agreement is a popular source of work for talent to stream on major platforms such as HBO or other broadcast networks.
Producers may need a performer for a major role for one episode or they may cast a talent as a series regular for one hour episode or thirty minute episode. SAG television rates will vary based on the number of episodes they will be in and duration of the episodes. Note that this does not apply for network television.
1. Major role performers in one episode
This contract applies to performers appearing in one episode.
SAG daily rate: $1204 / per day
SAG weekly rate: $4,180.00 / per week
2. Series regular in half-hour program
Series regular in half-hour programs applies to performers who appear in more than 6 episodes of a show’s season.
Compensation will be paid weekly and varies based on if the performer will appear in all 13 episodes, in at least more than 6 episodes and if the performer appears in only 6 episodes. If talent appears in less than 6 episodes, they would apply under the Majors role performer under one episode contract.
13 out of 13 episodes: $4,180.00 / per week
7-12 episodes: $4,785.00 / per week
1-6 episodes: $5,579 / per week
3. Series regular in hour programs
Series regular in hour programs have the same term structure as the half-hour program, however, the compensation increases.
13 out of 13 episodes: $5,02.00 / per week
7-12 episodes: $5,611.00 / per week
1-6 episodes: $6,562.00 / per week
What is the difference between the SAG-AFTRA Television and New Media Agreements?
New Media agreements apply to projects that are intended to distribute on online platforms such as websites, social sites or streaming platforms. The Television contract applies to projects that will be distributed on television networks.
2025 SAG-AFTRA Theatrical Agreement
The SAG-AFTRA Theatrical agreement applies to feature films that’s initial release will be in theatres. SAG rates to talent under the theatrical contract vary based on the total budget of the film. The following rates apply for principal talent only:
SAG Basic Theatrical Agreement
The SAG-AFTRA Basic Theatrical Agreement applies to feature films with a budget greater than $2,000,000.
SAG day rate: $1,204.00 / per day
SAG weekly rate: $4,180.00 / per week
2. SAG Low Budget Agreement
The SAG-AFTRA Low Budget Agreement applies to feature films with a budget between $700,000 and $2,000,000.
SAG day rate: $783.00 / per day
SAG weekly rate: $2,717.00 / per week
Pension and health contributions are 21% for performers.
3. SAG Moderate Low Budget Agreement
The SAG-AFTRA Low Budget Agreement applies to feature films with a budget between $300,000 and $700,000.
SAG day rate: $421.00 / per day
SAG weekly rate: $1,463.00 / per week
Pension and health contributions are 21% for performers.
4. SAG Ultra Low Budget Agreement
The SAG-AFTRA Low Budget Agreement applies to feature films with a budget of $300,000 or less.
SAG day rate: $241.00 / per day
SAG weekly rate: None
Pension and health contributions are 21% for performers.
Final Takeaway: Navigating SAG Agreements & Rates with Confidence
In summary, we've explored key SAG-AFTRA agreements and rates for principal talent, but this is just the beginning. There are many more terms and rates to consider for other project types, including dubbing, corporate/industrial work, and various performer categories such as background talent, extras, models, and stand-ins.
CMS Productions is a third-party union signatory to the SAG-AFTRA Commercials, Corporate, Educational / Industrial & Interactive Media contracts with an expert team on these contracts to properly estimate and budget hiring union performers for your upcoming commercial.
For any upcoming projects in need of union signatory support, CMS Productions is happy to assist. Contact us today to set up a consultation.
