SAG President Salary 2023: How Much Does the Union Leader Make?

If you are an actor or aspiring to be one, you might be wondering how much the SAG president salary is. The SAG president is the elected leader of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the union that represents more than 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcasters, journalists, singers, dancers, and other performers in the entertainment industry.

The SAG president is not a paid position, but rather a voluntary one that requires dedication, passion, and advocacy for the rights and interests of the union members. The current SAG president is Gabrielle Carteris, who was re-elected for a third term in 2019. Carteris is best known for her role as Andrea Zuckerman on Beverly Hills, 90210.

SAG President Salary in 2023

However, the SAG president is not the highest-paid official of SAG-AFTRA. That distinction belongs to the National Executive Director (NED), who is appointed by the SAG-AFTRA National Board and serves as the chief administrative officer and chief negotiator of the union. The NED oversees the day-to-day operations of the union, manages its staff and budget, and leads its collective bargaining efforts with employers.

How Much Does the SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Make?

According to the latest financial report filed by SAG-AFTRA with the U.S. Department of Labor in 2021, the NED of SAG-AFTRA is David White, who makes $600,458 a year. White has been serving as the NED since 2009, when he replaced Doug Allen amid a leadership crisis and a stalled contract negotiation with Hollywood studios.

White received a $40,798 raise in 2021, which is a 7.3% increase from his previous salary. This raise is nearly three times higher than the 2.5% raise that he negotiated for SAG-AFTRA members working under the film and TV contract in 2020.

White is not the only executive who got a hefty pay raise in 2021. The 10 highest-paid executives of SAG-AFTRA received more than a half-million dollars in raises, despite the fact that membership dues and agency fees – by far the union’s biggest source of income – actually declined by about $1,000 to $91 million and the fact that total receipts fell by $6.4 million to $187.6 million.

Who Are the Other Top-Paid Executives of SAG-AFTRA?

The second-highest-paid official of SAG-AFTRA is Randall Himes, the Assistant National Executive Director (ANED) in charge of sound recordings. Himes makes $374,439 a year as of 2021, which is a whopping $157,780 hike – up 72.8% from his previous salary.

The third-highest-paid official of SAG-AFTRA is Ray Rodriguez, the Chief Contract Officer (CCO), who makes $355,809 a year as of 2021. Rodriguez got an 88,571 raise – up 33% from his previous salary.

The fourth-highest-paid official of SAG-AFTRA is Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and General Counsel (GC), who makes $320,531 a year as of 2021. Crabtree-Ireland got a $49,971 raise – up 18.5% from his previous salary.

The fifth-highest-paid official of SAG-AFTRA is Arianna Ozzanto, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who makes $312,260 a year as of 2021. Ozzanto got a $74,260 raise – up 30% from her previous salary.

The other top-paid executives of SAG-AFTRA are:

• Mathis Dunn, the Associate National Executive Director (ANED), who makes $291,464 a year as of 2021.
• John McGuire, the Senior Advisor, who makes $270,406 a year as of 2021.
• Kathy Connell, the Executive Producer of the SAG Awards show, who makes $252,506 a year as of 2021.
• Martha Holdridge, the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), who makes $245,420 a year as of 2021.
• Mary Cavalaro, the Chief Broadcast Officer (CBO), who makes $224,397 a year as of 2021.

How Much Do SAG-AFTRA Members Make?

While the SAG-AFTRA executives are making big bucks, the average SAG-AFTRA member is not. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for actors in 2020 was $20.43, which translates to about $42,500 a year. However, this does not account for the fact that many actors work part-time or sporadically, and face periods of unemployment and underemployment.

The minimum salary rates for SAG-AFTRA members working under the film and TV contract increased by 2.5% in 2020 and by 3% in 2021, according to the Memorandum of Agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The minimum rates vary depending on the type, length, and budget of the production, but generally range from $1,030 per day or $3,575 per week for principal performers to $180 per day or $630 per week for background actors.

SAG-AFTRA members also receive residuals, which are payments for the reuse of their work in secondary markets such as cable TV, streaming services, DVDs, and foreign distribution. Residuals are calculated based on formulas that depend on the type and date of the production, the medium of reuse, and the gross receipts or license fees generated by the reuse. Residuals can provide a significant source of income for actors over time, especially for those who work on popular or long-running shows or movies.

SAG-AFTRA members also benefit from health and pension plans that are funded by employer contributions based on a percentage of their gross earnings. The SAG-AFTRA Health Plan provides medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage to eligible members and their dependents. The SAG-AFTRA Pension Plan provides retirement benefits to eligible members based on their years of service and earnings history.

Conclusion

The SAG president salary is zero, as it is a voluntary position that requires leadership and advocacy skills. However, the SAG president is not the highest-paid official of SAG-AFTRA. That title goes to the National Executive Director, who makes over $600,000 a year as of 2021. The other top-paid executives of SAG-AFTRA also make well over six figures a year. Meanwhile, the average SAG-AFTRA member makes about $42,500 a year as an actor, plus residuals and benefits.

If you are interested in becoming a SAG-AFTRA member or learning more about the union’s work and services, you can visit their website at https://www.sagaftra.org/.

Most Asked Questions and Answers

Q: How do I become a SAG-AFTRA member?

A: There are three ways to become eligible for SAG-AFTRA membership: 1) by working as a principal performer or background actor in a production covered by a SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreement; 2) by being a member in good standing of an affiliated union such as ACTRA or AEA; or 3) by being cast in a principal or speaking role in a SAG-AFTRA signatory production.

Q: How much are the SAG-AFTRA dues? A: The SAG-AFTRA dues consist of two parts: an annual base fee of $222.96 and a work dues fee of 1.575% of gross earnings up to $500,000 per year. The minimum annual dues are $242.96 and the maximum annual dues are $8,042.96.

Q: What is the difference between SAG and AFTRA?

A: SAG stands for Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA stands for American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. They were two separate unions that merged in 2012 to form SAG-AFTRA. SAG represented actors working in film and TV, while AFTRA represented actors working in radio, broadcast news, commercials, voiceovers, music videos, and other media.

Q: What are the benefits of being a SAG-AFTRA member?

A: Some of the benefits of being a SAG-AFTRA member are: 1) having access to fair wages, safe working conditions, health and pension plans, and residuals; 2) having a voice and representation in the industry and in collective bargaining; 3) having access to professional development, education, and networking opportunities; 4) having access to discounts, grants, scholarships, and other resources.

Q: What are the challenges of being a SAG-AFTRA member?

A: Some of the challenges of being a SAG-AFTRA member are: 1) facing competition, rejection, and uncertainty in the entertainment industry; 2) having to pay dues, fees, taxes, and other expenses related to the profession; 3) having to balance work and personal life, especially when working on multiple projects or traveling; 4) having to adapt to changing technologies, markets, and consumer preferences.

Q: How do I find work as a SAG-AFTRA member?

A: There are several ways to find work as a SAG-AFTRA member, such as: 1) working with an agent or manager who can submit you for auditions and negotiate contracts on your behalf; 2) browsing the casting notices on the SAG-AFTRA website or other online platforms; 3) creating your own content and showcasing your talent on social media or streaming services; 4) networking with other industry professionals and attending events, workshops, and seminars.

Q: How do I get an agent or manager as a SAG-AFTRA member?

A: To get an agent or manager as a SAG-AFTRA member, you need to: 1) research and identify reputable agents or managers who specialize in your type of work and genre; 2) prepare your resume, headshot, demo reel, and other materials that showcase your skills and experience; 3) submit your materials to the agents or managers of your choice, either by mail, email, or online submission; 4) follow up with a phone call or email to confirm receipt and express interest; 5) attend meetings or auditions with the agents or managers who respond positively and sign a contract if you agree on the terms.

Q: How do I join the SAG-AFTRA board or committees?

A: To join the SAG-AFTRA board or committees, you need to: 1) be a member in good standing of SAG-AFTRA for at least two years; 2) be nominated by yourself or another member for a specific position or committee; 3) submit a candidate statement and consent form by the deadline; 4) campaign for votes from fellow members during the election period; 5) attend regular meetings and participate in the governance and decision-making of the union.