Pete Davidson Just Revealed What Saturday Night Live Cast Members Really Make & We’re Shocked

First-Year Cast Members

When a cast member joins the cast in their first year as a featured player, they are paid $7,000 per episode according to Celebrity Net Worth. There are 21 episodes per season (excluding when COVID-19 lockdowns were in place in 2020 and during the SAG-AFTRA/Writers’ Guild Strike of 2023), so starter salaries totals to $147,000 per season.

Pete Davidson recently disclosed that when he started out, he got $3,000 in an interview with New York Magazine. “Do you guys know what they pay us? It’s, like, three grand an episode.” He went on to reveal what he spent it on, “I think I got dinner.”

Second to Fifth-Year Cast Members

Second-year cast members, or people who are promoted to repertory players, make $8,000 per episode, or $168,000 per season.

Fifth season and beyond Cast Members

If a cast member makes it to their fifth season, they make $15,000 per episode, or $315,000 per season.

Who’s the highest-paid Saturday Night Live cast member?

Who is the highest-paid Saturday Night Live cast member? To no surprise and as someone who has been in the sketch comedy show for more than 20 years, Kenan Thompson reportedly takes home $2 to $3 million per year, which would mean he got paid at least $95,238 per episode according to Celebrity Net Worth.