Almost five years ago, we hopped into an analysis of West End and Broadway pay to see whether any disparity lay between London and New York. As might be expected, there was something of a gap between the two locations – which you can read all about here.
But half a decade (and a few lockdowns) later, how have things changed? While average pay may well sit above union-agreed minimums, it’s worth using agreed rates as a straightforward means of comparison. Given the newly-launched Equity campaign about pay, it’s useful to provide a bit of context…
Recent data has also said that the average ticket price on Broadway in 2022 is $113.29 (£91.11, according to Statista), while the average West End ticket price in 2019 was £52, though that figure may have risen slightly since then.
Here we go!
Actors
Actors’ Equity Association on Broadway locked in a new contract in December, setting the minimum weekly salary for actors on Broadway at $2,323 (£1,871 at today’s exchange rate), with that figure set to increase to $2,638 by 2024.
Those in the West End are, as has been reported, about to embark on a new set of pay negotiations so lagging behind by a few months. Even so, we’ve gone by the current standings (set to remain until April 2023). In the West End, pay bands are broken into three categories, based on capacity and whether performers are doing an eight- or 12-show minima week.
“Category A” venues (featuring 1,100 or more seats) have an eight-show minima pay of £768.98 weekly rate (up from £695 in 2018), with that figure rising to £900.36 for a 12-show minima.
“Category B” venues (with between 900 and 1099 seats) have an eight-show minima weekly rate of £699.50 (up from £632 in 2018), with a 12-show minima of £818.49.
“Category C” venues (up to 799 seats) have an eight-show minima of £629.41 with a 12-show minima of £736.65.
There are also additional bonuses for dance captains (£120 in the West End) and for understudy appearances (£22 for a “supporting role, £35 for leading/principal roles). Actor-musicians also have an increased rate of pay, ranging from £867 to £937 depending on venue capacity.
The disparity between the West End and Broadway feels pretty stark.
Stage managers
In the West End, stage managers see a minimum weekly pay for an eight-show minima of between £759.41 (Category C venues) and £898.98 (Category A venues). Trying to find new data for Broadway has been tricky –in 2018 the figure was a minimum weekly salary of $3,342 (£2,349) a week for a musical, or $2,872 (£2,018) for a play. So, if we factor in some rises since then, the gap is very wide.
Musicians
The Musicians’ Union pay rates are currently set until October 2023, and can vary depending on how many instruments an individual is utisiling (this is known as doubling, trebling or quadrupling).
FAQs
What would the UK equivalent salary be? From April, west end rates p/w between £720 - £880 depending on theatre size. Vs. just over £2k a week on Broadway.
How is Broadway compared to the West End? ›
The West End and Broadway are two very different theatre environments, the two most prestigious in the world. But the factor that differentiates them the most is ticket prices. London and New York are two of the most expensive cities in the world, but this is particularly hammered home the other side of the pond.
How much money do Broadway performers make? ›
Generally, the average Broadway salary for non-celebrity actors is between $45,000 and $220,000 per year, depending on the run of the show or their contract length in an ongoing production. The current Equity weekly minimum salary for Broadway actors is $2,439 per week.
How much do West End child actors get paid? ›
Most West End contracts request that performers do not talk publicly about their salary, but children playing named characters in Oliver! are thought to be earning between £35 and £60 a performance, while Atkinson is rumoured to be earning several tens of thousands a week.
How much does a Broadway actor make per show? ›
How much do actors on Broadway make? Broadway is entirely unionized by a union known as “Equity”. “Equity Scale”, which is the minimum pay for any performer on Broadway, is $2,034 a week. However, a top performer can take in $100,000 a week and established stars can make more based on a percentage of ticket sales.
How much do the Lion King Broadway actors make? ›
$48,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $73,500 is the 75th percentile.
Is West End more prestigious than Broadway? ›
The West End is to London as Broadway is to New York City. West End theatre is considered (along with Broadway) the highest level of commercial theatre in the English-speaking world.
Is Broadway or West End more expensive? ›
And a Broadway average seat price of £92.76 makes it more than 60 per cent more expensive than the West End.
Who is the highest paid Broadway Actor? ›
Right now the highest-paid performer on Broadway is Richard Chamberlain, who is playing Captain von Trapp in 'The Sound of Music.” The actor, production sources say, pulls down about $50,000 a week. That figure is a combination of a guaranteed base salary, plus a percentage of the gross box-office receipts.
What is the highest paid Broadway show? ›
The Lion King sits at the top, with a Broadway gross of $1.9 billion. Dates refer to original Broadway productions, with notes added for future productions that outran the Broadway run. † Background shading indicates shows running in the week commencing 10 May 2024 in Broadway theatres.
If you are understudying a principal role, you get a small weekly pay bump of at least $60. If you are a dance captain, you get paid an additional $464.60 a week. Actors also get a bonus if they are with a show for more than a year, usually around $2,600.
Are West End actors well paid? ›
For the West End, current SOLT/Equity rates start at £712 for performing eight shows weekly in an 1100-seat theatre, but you can also get extra money for understudying, and being a dance captain or a swing.
How much does Matilda West End get paid? ›
However, the girls who play Matilda are paid only £60 if they are called on to perform — and £30 when they turn up but remain on standby. The girls, aged 9 and 10, typically perform in two shows a week, and can boost their earnings to £250 with rehearsal and stand-by fees.
Who is the richest child actor? ›
'Young Sheldon' star Iain Armitage and 'Modern Family' actress Aubrey Emmons are the world's richest child actors, with a net worth of amost £4.7 million. Aubrey Frances Anderson-Emmons is among the richest child actors, with an estimated net worth of £4.6 million ($6 million).
How much do dancers in the West End get paid? ›
Weekly pay rates for theatre productions vary depending on whether you are performing in a commercial theatre production or West End theatre, and on the capacity of the venue. As an approximate guide, this can be anything from £500 to £900 per week.
How much do London musical performers get paid? ›
How much money can I make as a Musical theatre performer per hour in London? On average, these specialists in London earn around £21.03 per hour. However, this number varies depending on the specific experience and skillset of the Musical theatre performer.
How much do performers make per concert? ›
How much do artists make on tour? The percentage of the Ticket price they get x how many people buy tickets. For example if their ticket is $100 the Stage they perform on gets about 20% the websites that sells the tickets gets about 15–30%. So if the ticket is $100 the artist gets $50 if it's 30% or $65 if it's 15%.
How much does it cost to run a West End show? ›
The weekly running costs are £250,000. To simply break even, the show needs a gross revenue of £335,000 per week, translating to an average ticket price of £27.92. Should the theatre meet the industry's 2017 standard of 77.5% capacity, that average break-even ticket price jumps to £36.02.
