SAG-AFTRA Guide: Joining, Dues, Benefits and Contracts

Everything you need to know about the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Membership, costs, benefits, contracts, and the real questions actors ask.

What Is SAG-AFTRA?

The Merged Union

SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) is the labor union representing approximately 160,000 media professionals. It was formed on March 30, 2012, through the merger of two legacy unions: SAG (founded 1933) and AFTRA (founded 1937). The merger was approved by 82% of voting members.

Who It Covers

SAG-AFTRA represents actors in film, television, and streaming; voice-over artists; radio personalities; recording artists (singers); stunt performers; broadcast journalists; dancers and other performing artists who work in media. If your performance is recorded or broadcast, SAG-AFTRA likely has jurisdiction over it.

What the Union Does

SAG-AFTRA negotiates collective bargaining agreements with producers that establish minimum pay rates, working conditions, safety standards, and residual payment structures. The union also administers health and pension plans, enforces contracts, provides legal support, advocates for performers' rights around digital replicas and likeness protections, and serves as the collective bargaining voice for its members. The 2023 strike (July-November) resulted in a new contract addressing streaming residuals, digital replica protections, and self-tape regulations.

How to Join SAG-AFTRA

There are three recognized paths to SAG-AFTRA membership.

1. Taft-Hartley (Principal Performer)

A non-union performer is hired for a principal role (speaking or featured) on a SAG-AFTRA production. The producer files a Taft-Hartley report with the union. After this job, you become "SAG-eligible" and may join the union at any time by paying the initiation fee. You are not required to join immediately. Background performers can also be Taft-Hartley'd, though it is less common and typically requires the producer to provide specific justification (e.g., special ability or skill needed).

2. Sister Union (Affiliated Performer Union)

If you are a paid-up member of an affiliated performers' union (such as AEA - Actors' Equity Association, or AGMA - American Guild of Musical Artists) for at least one year, and have performed work under that union's jurisdiction, you can join SAG-AFTRA. Other qualifying unions include AGVA, GIAA, and any union affiliated with the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (4As). This path is common for theater actors transitioning to film and television.

3. Background Vouchers (Three Voucher Method)

Non-union background performers who accumulate three SAG-AFTRA background work vouchers become SAG-eligible. Each voucher represents one day of work as a union-covered background actor on a SAG-AFTRA production. Getting these vouchers is competitive: union background are hired first, and non-union performers only receive union vouchers when more bodies are needed. In New York and Los Angeles, this can take months or years. In smaller markets like Atlanta, New Orleans, or Albuquerque, vouchers can be easier to obtain due to higher demand for background performers.

Costs and Dues

Initiation Fee: $3,000

The national initiation fee is $3,000 (as of 2024). This is a one-time payment. Some local branches may add a small supplemental fee. Payment plans are available in some cases, so contact your local SAG-AFTRA office. The fee is the same regardless of which path you use to join. This is often the biggest barrier for early-career actors, which is why timing your membership decision matters.

Semi-Annual Dues: $120.58+

Base dues are $120.58 per semi-annual period (paid twice per year, typically due May 1 and November 1). If your SAG-AFTRA earnings exceed $25,000 in the prior year, you also pay 1.617% of earnings between $25,001 and $500,000 on top of the base dues. If you earn over $500,000, the assessment on earnings above that threshold drops to a lower rate. For most working actors earning under $25,000/year from union work, you pay approximately $241.16 per year in dues.

What Happens If You Don't Pay Dues?

If your dues lapse, you become a member "not in good standing." You cannot work on SAG-AFTRA productions while your dues are unpaid. If dues remain unpaid for a prolonged period, you may be suspended or expelled. However, you can typically reinstate your membership by paying back dues plus any applicable reinstatement fees. This is generally easier and cheaper than re-joining from scratch.

Benefits of Membership

Health Insurance

The SAG-AFTRA Health Plan provides medical, dental, vision, and mental health coverage. Eligibility requires earning at least $26,470 in covered earnings during a qualifying period (four consecutive calendar quarters). This threshold is one of the most important numbers in an actor's career. Many union members, especially early in their careers, do not meet it. The plan covers members, their spouses/domestic partners, and dependent children. Coverage is through a choice of PPO and HMO options depending on your location.

Pension and Retirement

The SAG-AFTRA pension plan vests after 10 qualifying years of pension credit. You earn a year of pension credit by earning at least $25,950 in covered earnings in a calendar year (2024 threshold). The pension benefit is calculated based on your covered earnings history. There is also a separate SAG-AFTRA 401(k) plan called the AFTRA Retirement Fund for work previously under AFTRA jurisdiction. These are real, significant long-term benefits that compound over a career.

Residuals

Residuals are ongoing payments for the reuse of your performance. They apply to reruns, syndication, streaming, international distribution, airline showings, home video, and more. The formula varies by contract type and distribution medium. For network television reruns, residuals are a percentage of your original session fee that decreases with each subsequent airing. For streaming (SVOD), the 2023 contract introduced new residual structures tied to viewership bonuses and subscriber counts. Residuals from a single successful project can generate income for years or even decades.

Minimum Rates and Protections

SAG-AFTRA contracts establish minimum daily and weekly rates for performers. As of the current theatrical/TV contract, day performer rates are approximately $1,244/day and $4,320/week for theatrical (film). Television rates are similar with slight variations. Beyond pay, the union enforces meal penalties (if meals are not provided on time), overtime rules (premium pay after 8, 10, or 12 hours depending on the contract), turnaround time requirements (minimum rest between shooting days), and safety standards including the use of intimacy coordinators and stunt safety protocols.

Working Non-Union vs Union

Global Rule One

Global Rule One is SAG-AFTRA's most important membership rule. It states that no SAG-AFTRA member may work on a non-union production or for a non-signatory producer in any category of work covered by the union. Violation of Global Rule One can result in disciplinary action including fines and expulsion. This rule is why timing your union membership is critical. Once you join, you cannot legally (under union rules) take non-union film, TV, commercial, or voice-over work.

Financial Core (Fi-Core)

Financial Core status is a legal option (established by the Supreme Court in Communications Workers v. Beck) that allows a performer to resign from full union membership while remaining a "fee-paying non-member." Fi-core members can work both union and non-union jobs.

Fi-core trade-offs:

• Minus: You lose voting rights in union elections and contract ratifications
• Minus: You cannot run for union office or serve on committees
• Minus: You may lose access to some union member benefits and programs
• Minus: Fi-core status is publicly listed. Agents, casting directors, and fellow actors can see it
• Minus: There is a real social stigma in the industry; some actors and filmmakers view fi-core as undermining the union
• Minus: Going fi-core is very difficult to reverse. You may never be able to return to full member status
• Plus: You can work both union and non-union productions without violating any rules
• Plus: You still receive residuals and pension/health contributions for union work
• Plus: You pay slightly reduced fees (only the portion related to collective bargaining, not political activities)

The "SAG-Eligible" Sweet Spot

Many actors find the most strategic position is being SAG-eligible but not yet a member. In this status, you can continue working on non-union productions while having the option to join the union whenever you choose. Some actors stay SAG-eligible for years, building their reel, relationships, and representation before making the jump. The key is: once you join, there is no going back to non-union work without the fi-core trade-offs described above.

Key Contract Types

SAG-AFTRA negotiates separate contracts for different categories of work. Here are the ones that matter most.

• Theatrical (Film): Covers motion pictures intended for theatrical release. This is the "big" contract. Minimum day rate approximately $1,244. Weekly rate approximately $4,320. Negotiated in the Theatrical and Television Basic Agreement alongside television.
• Television: Covers scripted television series, pilots, movies of the week, and limited series. Rates are comparable to theatrical. Includes provisions for multi-episode deals, series regular contracts, and test option deals. Streaming shows produced by traditional studios typically fall under this contract.
• Commercials: Covers TV commercials, radio spots, and some digital ads. Payment structure is fundamentally different from theatrical: you earn session fees plus use fees based on where and how long the commercial airs. A national network commercial can pay tens of thousands in use fees. The Commercials Contract was separately negotiated and renewed in 2022.
• New Media / SVOD: Covers content made for streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV+, Hulu, Disney+, etc.). Historically these productions fell under side letters, but the 2023 contract brought them more in line with traditional TV terms. Includes new provisions for viewership-based residual bonuses and digital replica protections.
• Corporate / Educational: Covers industrial films, corporate training videos, educational content, and similar non-broadcast productions. Rates are lower than theatrical/TV but still significantly higher than typical non-union corporate work. Useful for actors building income between bigger bookings.
• Interactive Media (Video Games): Covers voice and motion capture performance in video games. The Interactive Media Agreement was updated after a separate strike in 2016-2017. It includes vocal stress protections, stunt coordinator requirements for motion capture, and transparency provisions requiring performers to be told the nature of the project.

Low Budget Agreements

SAG-AFTRA offers several tiered agreements designed to make it affordable for independent filmmakers to hire union talent. These are critical for the indie ecosystem and for newer union actors looking to build credits.

Short Project Agreement (budget up to $50,000)

• For short films (under 40 minutes in length)
• Performers may be paid as little as $0 (deferred) on films under $50,000
• No residuals obligation under this agreement
• Must still follow all SAG-AFTRA working conditions (meals, rest, safety)
• Very popular for film school and festival shorts
• Application is free and straightforward

Ultra Low Budget Agreement (budget up to $300,000)

• Minimum rate: $187/day (12-hour day)
• Entire budget of the film must be under $300,000
• No weekly rate, day rate only
• No residuals for initial exhibition
• Consecutive employment not required (you can shoot non-consecutive days)
• No overtime until after 10 hours (vs 8 hours on larger contracts)
• Good entry point for serious indie filmmakers

Modified Low Budget Agreement (budget up to $700,000)

• Minimum rate: $630/day, $2,190/week
• Entire budget must be under $700,000
• Consecutive employment required
• Some residual obligations apply
• Overtime provisions are closer to standard theatrical terms
• This tier is where projects start feeling more like a "real" union production

Low Budget Agreement (budget up to $2.5 million)

• Minimum rate: $791/day, $2,750/week
• Entire budget must be under $2.5 million
• Full residual obligations apply
• Standard overtime and working condition rules
• Consecutive employment required
• Many recognizable indie films are made under this agreement

Note: Budget thresholds and minimum rates are updated periodically. The rates listed here reflect general ranges from the current contract cycle. Always verify current rates at sagaftra.org or through your local SAG-AFTRA office before negotiating a deal. Producers must apply to become signatory to these agreements before production begins.

Common Questions

Can I do non-union work after joining SAG-AFTRA?

No. Once you join SAG-AFTRA, Global Rule One prohibits you from working on non-union productions. This is the single biggest decision in an actor's early career. If you join too early, you lose access to the non-union work that builds your resume. The only workaround is going Financial Core (fi-core), which has significant career trade-offs (see the Union vs Non-Union section above).

What is Taft-Hartley?

Taft-Hartley refers to the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, a federal labor law. In SAG-AFTRA terms, it means a non-union performer is hired for a union production. The producer files a Taft-Hartley report with the union justifying why they hired a non-member. After your first Taft-Hartley job, you become "SAG-eligible" and can join the union at any time. You are not required to join immediately. Many actors stay SAG-eligible for months or years before paying their initiation fee.

When should I join the union?

The common wisdom: join when you have to, not when you can. You should consider joining when (1) you are consistently booking or being called in for union work, (2) you have representation (agent/manager) who can submit you for union projects, and (3) you can afford the initiation fee without financial stress. Joining too early can actually hurt your career by cutting off access to non-union work before you have the credits, relationships, and skills to compete at the union level.

Do I get health insurance automatically?

No. SAG-AFTRA health insurance is earnings-based. You must earn at least $26,470 in covered earnings during a qualifying period (four consecutive calendar quarters) to be eligible for health coverage in the following benefit period. This threshold changes periodically. Many union members do not qualify for the health plan, especially in their early years.

What are residuals?

Residuals are payments made to performers for the reuse of their work after the initial exhibition. For example, if a TV show you appeared in is rerun, sold to streaming, released internationally, or shown on an airplane, you receive additional payments. The formula varies by contract type, medium, and market. Residuals from a single guest star role on a successful network show can generate income for years. Streaming residuals (SVOD) were a major issue in the 2023 strike and new formulas were negotiated in the successor contract.

What is the difference between SAG and AFTRA?

Before 2012, they were two separate unions. SAG (Screen Actors Guild) covered film performers. AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) covered television, radio, and recorded media. In March 2012, members of both unions voted to merge into a single entity: SAG-AFTRA. Today there is only one union. If you see older resources referring to "SAG" or "AFTRA" separately, they are outdated.

Can I negotiate above the minimum rate?

Absolutely. SAG-AFTRA rates are minimums (also called "scale"). You or your agent can always negotiate above scale. In fact, experienced actors regularly negotiate "scale + 10%" (the extra 10% covers agent commission so the actor takes home full scale) or significantly higher rates depending on the role and budget. The union sets the floor, not the ceiling.

What happens if a producer violates my SAG-AFTRA contract?

Contact SAG-AFTRA immediately. The union has a dedicated compliance department that investigates claims of contract violations including unpaid wages, unsafe working conditions, unauthorized use of your likeness, and overtime violations. If a signatory producer is found in violation, the union can impose penalties, require back-pay, and in serious cases, revoke the producer's signatory status. This enforcement is one of the primary reasons the union exists.