Scale Cheat Sheets (Updated March 2026)
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Download Official Guild Schedules of Minimums (You Should)
WGA Scale Cheat Sheet (5/2/25 – 5/1/26)
1. Minimum Scale Weekly Compensation
2. Major WGA Money Breaks
3. Pilot and Episodic Script Minimums by Platform
4. Pilot and Episodic Script Minimums by Fee Grouping
5. Upset Prices and Minimums for Rewrites, Polishes, Stories Only, Teleplays Only, Formats, and Bibles
Footnotes on WGA Minimums
[1] Standard post-greenlight writers’ rooms.
[2] Pre-greenlight rooms, a/k/a development rooms, a/k/a mini-rooms. Must guarantee at least ten consecutive weeks of services, after which weeks may be non-consecutive (though this would need to be negotiated as part of the deal, including potential “subject to professional availability” allowances in case of unpaid hiatuses that continue for more than a few weeks).
[3] In this scenario, usually week-to-week services (but may still provide for some guarantee).
[4] Technically “20 out of 26 weeks,” allowing for some non-consecutive scheduling with unpaid hiatuses.
[5] Technically “40 out of 52 weeks,” allowing greater flexibility on consecutive services/unpaid hiatuses.
[6] In this scenario, usually week-to-week services (but may still provide for some shorter guarantee, except for pre-greenlight mini-rooms, which require at least ten consecutive weeks of employment).
[7] Again, usually week-to-week services (but may still provide for some shorter guarantee, subject to minimum of ten consecutive weeks for pre-greenlight mini-rooms).
[8] Outside of broadcast and basic cable, covers programs between 36 and 65 minutes in length.
[9] Outside of broadcast and basic cable, covers programs between 20 and 35 minutes in length.
[10] Network primetime programs (on ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC).
[11] Premium pay networks (e.g., HBO, Starz, etc.). Due to the substantial integration of many such premium pay networks with their corporate parents’ flagship streaming services (e.g., HBO into HBO Max), in practice, most series that would have been governed as “pay TV” shows ten years ago are now usually governed as HBSVOD productions (though, as of the 2023–26 contract term, the impact of this distinction is largely negligible).
[12] In most contexts throughout the WGA Basic Agreement and the officially published Schedule of Minimums, basic cable is referred to as “Other than Network Prime Time.”
[13] Specifically, basic cable series in subsequent seasons with budgets above $1,200,000 per episode.
[14] SVOD platforms with 20 million or more subscribers in the United States and Canada (including Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV+, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Paramount+, and Peacock).
[15] For the 2023–26 contract term, over $3,800,000 per episode for one-hours, or over $2,100,000 per episode for half-hours.
[16] For the 2023–26 contract term, between $1,750,000 and $3,800,000 per episode for one-hours, or between $1,030,000 and $2,100,000 per episode for half-hours. Under $1,750,000 per episode for one-hours or $1,030,000 per episode for half-hours, rates are freely negotiable.
[17] SVOD platforms with fewer than 20 million subscribers in the United States and Canada (as of 2024, including AMC+ and BET+).
[18] Backup scripts paid at 115% of otherwise applicable scale minimums.
[19] Upset prices for pilot scripts are inclusive of formats, if prepared by the same writer.
[20] For pilot and episodic scripts, covers story and teleplay.
[21] Including Pay TV, High-Budget Major SVOD, and High-Budget AVOD.
[22] Including Mid-Budget Major SVOD, Mid-Budget AVOD, and all Minor SVOD.
[23] Lower rewrite fees apply for non-broadcast projects with budgets under $300,000 per episode for one-hours or $215,000.
[24] Lower polish fees apply for non-broadcast projects with budgets under $300,000 per episode for one-hours or $215,000.
DGA Scale Cheat Sheet (7/1/25 – 6/30/26)
1. DGA Program Budget Thresholds by Platform
2. Standalone Pilot Directing Minimums
3. Episodic Directing Minimums for One-Hour Programs in Broadcast and Basic Cable
4. Episodic Directing Minimums for One-Hour Programs in Streaming and Pay TV
5. Episodic Directing Minimums for Half-Hour Programs in Broadcast and Basic Cable
6. Episodic Directing Minimums for Half-Hour Programs in Streaming and Pay TV
7. Straight-to-Series First Episode Directing Minimums for One-Hour Programs
8. Straight-to-Series First Episode Directing Minimums for Half-Hour Programs
Footnotes on DGA Minimums
[1] For any program in the relevant medium that is produced at a budget lower than the floor amount of the lowest budget tier listed here, rates are freely negotiable.
[2] Network primetime programs (on ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC).
[3] Premium pay networks (e.g., HBO, Starz, etc.). Due to the substantial integration of many such premium pay networks with their corporate parents’ flagship streaming services (e.g., HBO into HBO Max), in practice, most series that would have been governed as “pay TV” shows ten years ago are now usually governed as HBSVOD productions (though, as of the 2023–26 contract term, the impact of this distinction is largely negligible).
[4] SVOD platforms with 20 million or more subscribers in the United States and Canada (including Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV+, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Paramount+, and Peacock).
[5] SVOD platforms with fewer than 20 million subscribers in the United States and Canada (as of 2024, including AMC+ and BET+).
[6] In certain circumstances, episodic directors may be engaged on a day-to-day basis (e.g., to handle reshoots for which the original director is unavailable) at a 25% premium over the corresponding rate for days worked beyond the minimum guaranteed work period.
SAG-AFTRA Scale Cheat Sheet (7/1/25 – 6/30/26)
Footnotes on SAG-AFTRA Minimums
[1] Schedule A.
[2] Schedule B.
[3] Schedule C. In guest star agreements, the threshold amount is sometimes referred to as “top-of-show,” because some broadcast series traditionally had policies against ever paying guest stars more than that amount.
[4] Or over $5,150 per week.
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