Some TV shows are changing how they hire actors

New LinkedIn job posting: Series regular on a new TV show, $50,000/episode.

This👆may soon become a common occurrence, as Hollywood shows have begun to adopt a hiring process similar to that of any traditional organization, with salary rates fixed and listed on the initial job description.

• The Pitt, a new Max show debuting in 2025, is the latest to adopt the trend; salary rates for the series regulars are fixed at $35,000 or $50,000 per episode.

Why change the process? Generally speaking, streamers are tightening purse strings as their focus shifts from growth to profitability; many TV show budgets have been reduced, impacting all aspects of production – including the selection of actors. Setting a fixed pay rate before auditions are even held helps both streamline the casting process and keep the show under budget.

Big stars won’t be affected. The “No. 1 on the call sheet,” aka the highest paid actor on any given project, will still be able to negotiate salary based on star power. Shows may opt to only hire one or two big names though, to keep costs low.

📸 Big picture: In addition to The Pitt, the fixed-fee technique has also been employed by other currently running shows, including CBS’ Elsbeth, Fox’s Accused, and Peacock’s Poker Face. Moving forward, analysts say it could become more commonplace on shows that have a large number of series regulars, such as Yellowstone or Stranger Things.