What SAG-AFTRA’s Three Low-Budget Agreements Pay From July 1, 2026, With 3% Annual Rises

An independent film or series that hires SAG-AFTRA performers signs one of several SAG-AFTRA contracts. The total production budget decides which one applies, and each contract sets its own pay terms, pension and health contribution and paperwork. SAG-AFTRA publishes the current figures on its own site, and SAGindie, a division of Film-Raderie, also carries them for independent producers.

The rates below take effect July 1, 2026. SAGindie says the minimums rise by 3% each year through June 30, 2030. Where older SAG-AFTRA materials differ from current guidance, the current guidance is used here.

Which Contract Fits a Production Budget

SAG-AFTRA’s signatory guidance sets the budget ceiling for each agreement. The Micro-Budget Project Agreement covers projects up to $20,000 per picture or episode, and its terms are negotiable between producer and performer. The Ultra Low Budget Project Agreement (UPA) covers budgets up to $300,000. The Moderate Low Budget Project Agreement (MPA) covers budgets up to $700,000, and the Low Budget Theatrical Agreement (LBA) covers budgets up to $2 million.

Separate Student Film ($35,000) and Short Project ($50,000) agreements also exist. Under the student agreement, principal performer salaries are deferred. Under the short project agreement, they are negotiable.

Older figures differ. SAGindie’s June 30, 2015 notice to low budget producers gave the Ultra Low Budget ceiling as $250,000 and the Low Budget ceiling as $2.5 million. The current signatory guidance gives $300,000 and $2 million.

The Diversity-in-Casting incentive raises the MPA maximum to $950,000 and the LBA maximum to $3 million when its requirements are met. Those require at least 50% of speaking roles and 50% of employment days cast with performers from protected groups, and at least 20% of days cast with People of Color. For the MPA, an average of at least three SAG-AFTRA background performers per principal photography day may allow the producer to add $112,000 to production cost.

Low-budget productions must shoot entirely within U.S. states and territories. SAGindie says productions shot abroad will likely fall under the Theatrical Basic Agreement.

Ultra Low Budget Minimum
SAGindie’s 2026 notice sets the Ultra Low Budget minimum at $257 a day from July 1, 2026, and the Low Budget minimum at $834 a day.

Minimum Pay for Performers, Year by Year

SAGindie’s signatory guidance sets minimums as a share of the Basic Agreement scale: 20% for the Ultra Low Budget tier, 35% for the Moderate tier and 65% for the Low Budget tier. The signatory guidance gives the same shares.

Ultra Low Budget minimums are $257 a day from July 1, 2026, rising to $264 on July 1, 2027, $272 on July 1, 2028 and $280 on July 1, 2029. Only day rates apply under this agreement, and SAG-AFTRA’s Ultra Low Budget summary says exclusivity is not permitted.

Moderate Low Budget minimums are $449 a day or $1,560 a week from July 1, 2026. They rise to $462 or $1,607 in 2027, $476 or $1,655 in 2028, and $491 or $1,705 in 2029.

Low Budget minimums are $834 a day or $2,896 a week from July 1, 2026. They rise to $859 or $2,984 in 2027, $885 or $3,073 in 2028, and $911 or $3,166 in 2029.

Background actor minimums are $231 a day from July 1, 2026, rising to $238, $245 and $252 in the following three years. SAG-AFTRA’s Ultra Low Budget summary states that its rates are minimums and do not prevent performers from negotiating better terms.

Pension, Health and Residuals

Under the Ultra Low Budget agreement, pension and health contributions are calculated on a principal performer’s total gross salary before distribution. SAG-AFTRA’s Ultra Low Budget summary lists this at 21%. SAGindie’s 2026 notice gives 22% for principal performers and 21.5% for background performers from Sept. 6, 2026. The signatory guidance gives background performers 20.5%, rising to 21.5% on the same date.

The Ultra Low Budget summary says residuals are generally a percentage of the distributor’s gross receipts: 3.6% for free TV, basic cable, pay cable, free or ad-supported streaming and paid subscription or internet rental. Videocassettes and discs pay 4.5% on the first million and 5.4% after that. Download-to-own and electronic sell-through follow a tiered calculation.

A nudity rider is required if nudity, including partial or implied nudity, will be requested. The producer must give the performer a detailed description of the scene and the exposure involved.

Budget ceilings decide which SAG-AFTRA contract applies, and the Ultra Low, Moderate Low and Low Budget contracts set the minimum a performer must be paid.

Signatory Steps and Paperwork

SAGindie’s signatory guidance recommends starting about four to six weeks before cast travels, rehearses or films. The application needs a completed budget covering production and post costs, and a completed script that gives the number of characters and notes any minors, animals, stunts or sex scenes. The budget determines which agreement applies.

There are two application forms: one for the Micro-Budget Project Agreement, and another for the Short, Student, Ultra Low, Moderate Low, Low Budget and Basic Theatrical agreements. After submission, a SAG-AFTRA Business Representative becomes the main contact and is expected to reach out within about three business days. Producers may also receive access to a Producer Portal for uploading paperwork.

SAG-AFTRA’s financial assurance materials list a security deposit letter, which the signatory completes to explain the deposit’s purpose. They also list security agreements: a Grantor Debtor agreement for signatories that do not own the copyright, and a Standard Theatrical agreement for those that do. A corporate or LLC partnership authorization form identifies the authorized signer.

SAG-AFTRA has not published a deposit amount for these tiers in the materials cited here. Producers should confirm the amount and payment method with the Entertainment Contracts Department at 323-549-6828.

What the Published Figures Add Up To

Scale is only part of a performer’s cost, because pension and health contributions are added on top of gross salary. Using the 22% rate in effect from Sept. 6, 2026, ten days at the $257 Ultra Low Budget minimum comes to $2,570 in salary and $565.40 in pension and health, or $3,135.40 in total.

At Low Budget scale, ten days at $834 a day comes to $8,340 in salary, plus $1,834.80 in pension and health, for a total of $10,174.80. These are calculations from the published minimums. They exclude deposits, fees and any pay above scale.

Micro-Budget projects are not covered by these scales, because their performer terms are negotiated. Deposits are not included in any of the totals above.