How Much Does the Cast of ‘Days of Our Lives’ Get Paid?
There are certain soap operas that have been around for years. And many of the shows have actors and actresses who have been members of the cast for decades. However, soap operas don’t generally offer the same salaries that a hit Hollywood movie or ABC primetime drama might offer. But that doesn’t mean the cast doesn’t make a decent amount of money. Here’s how much cast members get paid to be on Days of Our Lives.
How soap opera stars’ salaries are calculated
Similar to any show, the longer you’ve been on it, the more money you’ll make. There are certain soap operas, such as Days of Our Lives, that have been on for decades. The show first aired in 1965, and some cast members have actually stayed on for as many as 50 years. However, it’s also a daytime television show, and the actors and actresses on the show tend to be less well-known in the acting world. Despite the show’s tenure, those on it don’t usually get paid too much.
Most cast members make anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 per episode
For cast members that have been on the show for a while (more than five years), the salary will usually range anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 per episode. Veteran characters who have been on for more than a decade might earn around $5,000. ThoughtCo reports that those who have been on the show for a lesser amount of time might earn around $1,000. And people with few lines (only around five per episode) might make less than $500. Main characters often stay on the show for a number of years, so after a while, those actors and actresses begin to build up a solid income.
While the more important characters might make as much as $5,000 per episode, episodes don’t typically take very long to film. ET Online reports that Days of Our Lives has a very intense schedule, and the cast films more than seven episodes in one week. The schedule needs to be tight, since soap operas air far more frequently than primetime shows. The hours are long, but for those who make good money, it’s worth it.
‘Days of Our Lives’ salaries have led to eye-popping net worths
Susan Seaforth Hayes spent nearly 50 years working on Days of Our Lives. In that time, she was able to make a lot of money since she quickly became a veteran character. Someone making $5,000 per episode (likely what Seaforth Hayes was making toward her final years on the show) might see close to $40,000 per week.
Over time, that accumulates to a solid net worth. (However, the cast doesn’t film every week of the year.) Estimates today put Seaforth Hayes’ net worth around $5 million. Although that’s a lot of money to the average American, some actors make that money in just a few seasons, depending on the show they’re on.
Deidre Hall’s net worth stands above the rest of the Days of Our Lives cast at an estimated $12 million. Meanwhile, Billy Flynn ($3 million), Alison Sweeney ($9 million), and Drake Hogestyn ($3 million) have also made a nice living from Days.
