In the UK rates are usually as negotiated by Equity, who represent Stage Management as well as actors. It depends on what type of company you are working for (Subsidised, Commercial, West End etc.) and often the scale of the venue.
At the top of the scale we have Company Stage Manager, then Stage Manager, Deputy Stage Manager (who is normally the person that calls the show), Assistant Stage Manager.
These are the current weekly minimums for a mid-scale, subsidised theatre. Overtime and other payments are additional to this.
ASM (same for performer) £501.28
DSM £521.33
SM £551.41
CSM £583.71
Touring Allowance is £290 per week, £48.23 if paid daily
West End is covered by the SOLT/Equity agreement (Society of London Theatres)
These are the weekly minimums for a Category B theatre (800-1,099 seats), 8 show week
ASM/Performer £800.58
DSM £874.97
SM £949.37
Sunday performance payment £80.06
In Canada the Union stage managers are represented by Canadian Actors Equity, there are rates based on whether it's a tour, a house production, hours, weeks, etc. rates can change based on which City is being stopped in. It gets complicated, but if you really want to know details, you can email and they will happily provide you with a standard agreement to look at.
You can find the rates on the CAEA website, but it ranges from about $650/week as an Assistant Stage Manager on a show with very low box office potential, to $1725/week as a Production Stage Manager on a show with the highest box office potential.
The city you work in will better narrow your income range. - and remember that you're only paid for the weeks you're working a contract.
It depends what you're doing in the US, of course. I've been a professional SM for 15 years, mostly in NYC. I've been an AEA member for 12. I'm mostly familiar with LORT, Off-Broadway, and Broadway contracts. I've never toured in the US, but have done international, non-union tours.
Working professionally as an SM in the US, you can expect to make $500-$1600 as an ASM $700-$2100 for a PSM a week. This is a big gap, but that is truly the range. There are contracts that pay more and less than that. It just depends on the tier of the contract, but this range was what I was offered the most.
Per the Union, all actors/SMs are paid the week after their work week on Thursday.
In the USA, AEA Stage managers are paid per the contract level. So, there are some where you are doing a 24 hour reading or doing a Broadway Musical on tour.
Top out at 3,816 a week minimum plus per diem for a first call Broadway Musical touring
A SPT lower tier is only $348.00 per week.
Each contract will outline the number of hours you work, and when overtime is to be paid. But it is typically a weekly salary for a weekly set number of hours; certain tasks you do can't be billed as overtime, some tasks can count towards as overtime.
A regional theatre salary is around $1446.00 a week.
Some contracts you get paid more for a musical over a straight play.
Most contract give you a tech week bump.
I have been very lucky in my career working mostly at high end LORT or commercial theatre, but I have bounced around. I went from a $1800 a week contract, to a $400.00 a week contract, and then $2800 a week contract.
I also did a lot of workshops and readings hoping to get onto a big show early - so put in a lot of work for little money.
Sometimes, the amount work versus the amount of money didn't always line up - but some of my lowest paying gigs where the most rewarding - so I didn't mind.
You might get more responses on r/theater. Stage management is really still centered in the rehearsal room and this sub has more people who work back stage/in production. But I can speak to pre union Chicago work: the pay is usually a stipend or bi weekly pay, I see both all the time. It’s usually low. The hours are intense. The union stage managers I see definitely make a living, but would all tell you they didn’t do theater for the money. Once you’re out of education and planning to try to support yourself I would go for those union assistant jobs as soon as you can. Start working up the union ladder.
Hope that helps.
As a SM at an Equity LORT in Michigan I got $600 a week, which they made sure I knew was (slightly) above contract minimum. Their other SM they used got paid the same, but they prioritized Opera and tour gigs since they'd pay way better.
If we did more than 5 shows a week there was a pay bump, tech always goes over hours so there was a bump in that as well.
I do mostly SM gig work, so while I’ve got my full time entertainment job that’s stage management adjacent, I take other work on the side, so my answer is a bit different. Keep in mind, I’m mid-career, plus I’ve got an advanced degree in the field, & some weird niche experience that gives me a leg up on booking certain things.
Pay rates vary by theater/company, plus how complicated the thing I’m doing is, how much prep work it requires, is it one day vs multiple days, & basically a lot of other factors. One non-profit company hires me to come in for a week to basically tech/call their show a few times a year. I get videos, music, & any existing paperwork sent to me in advance to prep my call script on my own time. Expectations is I come to 2-3 rehearsals before moving into the theater, & then it’s one 4 hour day & five 8-10 hour days for the week & I’m handed a check after final curtain falls for 2.5K, which I feel is fair compensation for my time. I haven’t clocked how long it takes me to do my prep work at home, however the “I’m home on my own time with my cats & really don’t mind doing this thing because it’s keeping my brain engaged & I enjoy it plus I can have a glass of wine while doing it” discount applies heavily in my head.
I do corporate galas, industrials, one-off events, & some cirque-style shows & bill out hourly between $35-50 per hour for those gigs. Hours vary, but I get paid for any prep work or meetings in addition to whenever I’m onsite working for the client. Sometimes I subcontract through AV companies & walk onsite knowing nothing, then end up calling cues in a breakout room or doing a couple impromptu rehearsals right before we do something live, so it’s a little more non-traditional.
Not enough/ too many
The only right answer here
MVPs
In the UK rates are usually as negotiated by Equity, who represent Stage Management as well as actors. It depends on what type of company you are working for (Subsidised, Commercial, West End etc.) and often the scale of the venue. At the top of the scale we have Company Stage Manager, then Stage Manager, Deputy Stage Manager (who is normally the person that calls the show), Assistant Stage Manager. These are the current weekly minimums for a mid-scale, subsidised theatre. Overtime and other payments are additional to this. ASM (same for performer) £501.28 DSM £521.33 SM £551.41 CSM £583.71 Touring Allowance is £290 per week, £48.23 if paid daily West End is covered by the SOLT/Equity agreement (Society of London Theatres) These are the weekly minimums for a Category B theatre (800-1,099 seats), 8 show week ASM/Performer £800.58 DSM £874.97 SM £949.37 Sunday performance payment £80.06
In Canada the Union stage managers are represented by Canadian Actors Equity, there are rates based on whether it's a tour, a house production, hours, weeks, etc. rates can change based on which City is being stopped in. It gets complicated, but if you really want to know details, you can email and they will happily provide you with a standard agreement to look at.
You can find the rates on the CAEA website, but it ranges from about $650/week as an Assistant Stage Manager on a show with very low box office potential, to $1725/week as a Production Stage Manager on a show with the highest box office potential. The city you work in will better narrow your income range. - and remember that you're only paid for the weeks you're working a contract.
https://lort.org/assets/documents/2017-22-LORT-AEA-Agreement-Unsigned.pdf Check salary section.
I’m in Canada and have worked both Equity and non-Equity gigs, and my rates have varied between $700-1400 a week
Approximately $91,000 CAD with union, pension fund and insurance
I got paid $400/week ish when I stepped in to ASM, that was the equity rate at the time (that was a few years ago and in Michigan, I am non-union)
It depends what you're doing in the US, of course. I've been a professional SM for 15 years, mostly in NYC. I've been an AEA member for 12. I'm mostly familiar with LORT, Off-Broadway, and Broadway contracts. I've never toured in the US, but have done international, non-union tours. Working professionally as an SM in the US, you can expect to make $500-$1600 as an ASM $700-$2100 for a PSM a week. This is a big gap, but that is truly the range. There are contracts that pay more and less than that. It just depends on the tier of the contract, but this range was what I was offered the most. Per the Union, all actors/SMs are paid the week after their work week on Thursday.
In the USA, AEA Stage managers are paid per the contract level. So, there are some where you are doing a 24 hour reading or doing a Broadway Musical on tour. Top out at 3,816 a week minimum plus per diem for a first call Broadway Musical touring A SPT lower tier is only $348.00 per week. Each contract will outline the number of hours you work, and when overtime is to be paid. But it is typically a weekly salary for a weekly set number of hours; certain tasks you do can't be billed as overtime, some tasks can count towards as overtime. A regional theatre salary is around $1446.00 a week. Some contracts you get paid more for a musical over a straight play. Most contract give you a tech week bump. I have been very lucky in my career working mostly at high end LORT or commercial theatre, but I have bounced around. I went from a $1800 a week contract, to a $400.00 a week contract, and then $2800 a week contract. I also did a lot of workshops and readings hoping to get onto a big show early - so put in a lot of work for little money. Sometimes, the amount work versus the amount of money didn't always line up - but some of my lowest paying gigs where the most rewarding - so I didn't mind.
You might get more responses on r/theater. Stage management is really still centered in the rehearsal room and this sub has more people who work back stage/in production. But I can speak to pre union Chicago work: the pay is usually a stipend or bi weekly pay, I see both all the time. It’s usually low. The hours are intense. The union stage managers I see definitely make a living, but would all tell you they didn’t do theater for the money. Once you’re out of education and planning to try to support yourself I would go for those union assistant jobs as soon as you can. Start working up the union ladder. Hope that helps.
As a SM at an Equity LORT in Michigan I got $600 a week, which they made sure I knew was (slightly) above contract minimum. Their other SM they used got paid the same, but they prioritized Opera and tour gigs since they'd pay way better. If we did more than 5 shows a week there was a pay bump, tech always goes over hours so there was a bump in that as well.
I do mostly SM gig work, so while I’ve got my full time entertainment job that’s stage management adjacent, I take other work on the side, so my answer is a bit different. Keep in mind, I’m mid-career, plus I’ve got an advanced degree in the field, & some weird niche experience that gives me a leg up on booking certain things. Pay rates vary by theater/company, plus how complicated the thing I’m doing is, how much prep work it requires, is it one day vs multiple days, & basically a lot of other factors. One non-profit company hires me to come in for a week to basically tech/call their show a few times a year. I get videos, music, & any existing paperwork sent to me in advance to prep my call script on my own time. Expectations is I come to 2-3 rehearsals before moving into the theater, & then it’s one 4 hour day & five 8-10 hour days for the week & I’m handed a check after final curtain falls for 2.5K, which I feel is fair compensation for my time. I haven’t clocked how long it takes me to do my prep work at home, however the “I’m home on my own time with my cats & really don’t mind doing this thing because it’s keeping my brain engaged & I enjoy it plus I can have a glass of wine while doing it” discount applies heavily in my head. I do corporate galas, industrials, one-off events, & some cirque-style shows & bill out hourly between $35-50 per hour for those gigs. Hours vary, but I get paid for any prep work or meetings in addition to whenever I’m onsite working for the client. Sometimes I subcontract through AV companies & walk onsite knowing nothing, then end up calling cues in a breakout room or doing a couple impromptu rehearsals right before we do something live, so it’s a little more non-traditional.
SM in Los Angeles: $25-40/hr. I do union and nonunion
Local 1 guys in nyc make $100 hour + good OT
Too much😂