An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs “in the flesh” in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is ὑποκριτής, literally “one who answers”.
Below are Actors Salaries In South Africa
A person working as an Actor in South Africa typically earns around 38,700 ZAR per month. Salaries range from 17,800 ZAR (lowest) to 61,500 ZAR (highest).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Actor salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Actor Salary Distribution in South Africa
The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range
Salary Range
Actor salaries in South Africa range from 17,800 ZAR per month (minimum salary) to 61,500 ZAR per month (maximum salary).
Median Salary
The median salary is 41,800 ZAR per month, which means that half (50%) of people working as Actor(s) are earning less than 41,800 ZAR while the other half are earning more than 41,800 ZAR. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Percentiles
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of Actor(s) are earning less than 26,800 ZAR while 75% of them are earning more than 26,800 ZAR. Also from the diagram, 75% of Actor(s) are earning less than 55,800 ZAR while 25% are earning more than 55,800 ZAR.
Actor Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does experience and age affect your pay?
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher your wage. We broke down Actor salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
An Actor with less than two years of experience makes approximately 20,200 ZAR per month.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 27,000 ZAR per month, 34% more than someone with less than two year’s experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 39,900 ZAR per month, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, Actor(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 48,600 ZAR per month, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 53,000 ZAR per month, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 57,400 ZAR per month, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Actor average salary change by experience in South Africa
| 0 – 2 Years | 20,200 ZAR | |
| 2 – 5 Years | +34% | 27,000 ZAR |
| 5 – 10 Years | +48% | 39,900 ZAR |
| 10 – 15 Years | +22% | 48,600 ZAR |
| 15 – 20 Years | +9% | 53,000 ZAR |
| 20+ Years | +8% | 57,400 ZAR |
Actor Salary Comparison By Education
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary difference between different Actor(s) who have the same experience but different education levels.
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down Actor salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is High School, the average salary of an Actor is 23,100 ZAR per month.
While someone with a Certificate or Diploma gets a salary of 36,200 ZAR per month, 57% more than someone having a High School degree.
A Bachelor’s Degree gets its holder an average salary of 60,700 ZAR per month, 68% more than someone with a Certificate or Diploma.
Actor average salary difference by education level in South Africa
| High School | 23,100 ZAR | |
| Certificate or Diploma | +57% | 36,200 ZAR |
| Bachelor’s Degree | +68% | 60,700 ZAR |
Actor Salary Comparison By Gender
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male Actor employees in South Africa earn 12% more than their female counterparts on average.
| Male | 40,900 ZAR | |
| Female | -11% | 36,600 ZAR |
How much do beginner actors get paid in South Africa?
Supporting actors can earn between R1,500 to R5,000 per call – which is a 12-hour day of work. “Stars” can earn up to R6,000 per call, he said. For extras in a show – usually non-speaking roles, and who can be untrained people “off the street” – R250 to R500 per call is the going rate.
How much do extra actors get paid in South Africa?
How much does an Actor make at TV EXTRAS Solutions in South Africa? Average TV EXTRAS Solutions Actor daily pay in South Africa is approximately R 2 829, which is 60% above the national average.