Beyond the Dare: An In-Depth Guide to the Salary of a...

[What Does a Stunt Performer Do?](#what-does-a-stunt-performer-do)
[The Average Salary of a Stuntman: A Deep Dive](#the-average-salary-of-a-stuntman-a-deep-dive)
[Key Factors That Influence a Stunt Performer's Salary](#key-factors-that-influence-a-stunt-performers-salary)
[Job Outlook and Career Growth for Stunt Professionals](#job-outlook-and-career-growth-for-stunt-professionals)
[How to Get Started in a Stunt Career](#how-to-get-started-in-a-stunt-career)
[Conclusion: Is a Career in Stunts Right for You?](#conclusion-is-a-career-in-stunts-right-for-you)

The flash of an explosion, the squeal of tires in a high-speed chase, the visceral impact of a rooftop fight—these are the moments that make audiences hold their breath. Behind every one of these heart-pounding scenes is a hidden artist, a professional who blends athletic prowess with calculated risk: the stunt performer. For many, the idea of becoming a stuntman or stuntwoman is a childhood dream, a fantasy of living a life of action and adventure. But beyond the adrenaline and the on-screen glory lies a highly demanding, technically complex, and surprisingly structured profession. The most pressing question for anyone seriously considering this path isn't just "Can I do it?" but also, "Can I make a living doing it?"

The answer is a resounding yes, but with significant caveats. The salary of a stuntman is one of the most variable in the entertainment industry, ranging from a modest income for those just starting out to well over six figures for seasoned veterans and coordinators. A typical day rate for a union stunt performer starts at over $1,000, but an annual income can fluctuate dramatically based on the number of days worked. While data from salary aggregators like Payscale suggests a median salary around $70,000 per year, top-tier performers with unique skills can easily earn $250,000 or more in a busy year.

I once had the opportunity to observe a second-unit film crew setting up a "simple" stair fall. Watching the stunt coordinator and performer spend two hours meticulously planning, padding, and rehearsing a fall that would last three seconds on screen was a powerful lesson. It’s not about being a daredevil; it's about being a disciplined, safety-obsessed professional who creates the *illusion* of danger. This guide is built on that understanding—that a successful stunt career is forged not just in courage, but in expertise, strategy, and business acumen.

This comprehensive article will pull back the curtain on the world of professional stunts. We will dissect the salary of a stuntman from every angle, explore the factors that dictate your earning potential, and provide a realistic, step-by-step roadmap to breaking into this exclusive and exhilarating field.

What Does a Stunt Performer Do?

To the casual viewer, a stunt performer’s job is simply to perform dangerous actions on camera. While this is the ultimate outcome, it represents only a fraction of their actual responsibilities. A professional stunt performer is a unique blend of athlete, actor, engineer, and safety expert. Their primary function is to work with the director and stunt coordinator to design, rehearse, and safely execute physical feats that are either too dangerous or too specialized for a regular actor to perform.

The role goes far beyond raw courage. It is rooted in precision, control, and an encyclopedic knowledge of physical cause and effect. How do you crash a car without causing serious injury? How do you fall from a three-story building and land safely? How do you engage in a complex sword fight that looks chaotic and deadly but is, in fact, as precisely choreographed as a ballet? Answering these questions is the core of the stunt professional's job.

Core Responsibilities and Daily Tasks:

Physical Conditioning: The foundation of all stunt work is peak physical fitness. A significant portion of a stunt performer's time, whether on or off a job, is dedicated to strength training, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and practicing specific skills.
Skill Rehearsal: Stunt performers constantly hone their craft. This includes martial arts practice, high-fall training onto airbags, precision driving on a closed course, or practicing fire burns with protective gear.
Choreography and Pre-visualization: Working with the stunt coordinator, they break down a scene beat by beat. They choreograph fights, plan the trajectory of falls, and determine the exact timing of vehicle movements.
Safety Analysis and Rigging: Safety is paramount. Before any stunt, the performer and the team inspect the location, test equipment (like wires, harnesses, and airbags), and walk through the sequence multiple times to identify potential hazards. They are often directly involved in setting up safety rigging.
Collaboration with Actors: Stunt performers often work closely with the actors they are doubling. They teach the actor the beginning and end poses of a stunt to ensure seamless editing, and they must often mimic the actor's specific body language and movements.
Performance: The final step is executing the stunt on camera, often requiring multiple takes to get the perfect shot from various angles while maintaining safety and consistency.

### A Day in the Life: The Car Chase Sequence

To make this tangible, let's walk through a hypothetical day for a stunt performer, "Alex," who is a stunt double on a major action film.

5:00 AM - Call Time: Alex arrives on set before sunrise. The first stop is the trailer for wardrobe and makeup, ensuring the costume matches the lead actor's perfectly and any necessary padding is concealed.
6:00 AM - Safety Briefing: Alex joins the stunt coordinator, director, camera crew, and safety team. They walk the closed-off section of the street where the chase will be filmed. The coordinator uses a map to outline the sequence: a 90-degree turn, a near-miss with a prop car, and a final slide to a stop. Every driver, including those in the background, knows their exact role.
7:00 AM - Vehicle Prep: Alex inspects the hero car. The team has already installed a roll cage and a five-point harness, but Alex double-checks every element. He does a few slow-speed runs to get a feel for the car's handling on the wet pavement.
8:30 AM - Rehearsal: The team does a "dry run" at half-speed. Cameras aren't rolling. This is all about timing and positioning. The director provides feedback on the desired look of the slide.
10:00 AM - First Take: "Action!" Alex executes the sequence precisely as rehearsed. The car squeals around the corner, narrowly avoids the other vehicle, and slides into its designated spot. "Cut! Great, let's do it again for the close-up camera."
12:00 PM - Lunch: A quick break. Most of the conversation is about the afternoon's setup.
1:00 PM - New Setup: The crew moves to a different part of the sequence. This involves Alex (doubling the hero) being "thrown" from a moving vehicle. In reality, he's on a wire rig that will pull him safely onto a padded mat just out of frame. This takes two hours to rig and test.
3:00 PM - The "Tire Squeal" Take: The director needs one more shot of the initial chase, this time focusing just on the tires smoking. Alex does five more takes of just the turn.
5:00 PM - Wrap: Alex is released for the day. He heads not home, but to his local gymnastics gym for an hour of stretching and light tumbling to decompress and keep his body limber for tomorrow's call time, which involves a fight scene on a rooftop.

This example illustrates that a stunt performer's day is less about non-stop thrills and more about meticulous, repetitive, and safety-focused work to create a few perfect seconds of on-screen magic.

The Average Salary of a Stuntman: A Deep Dive

Analyzing the salary of a stuntman is complex because it's not a typical salaried position. The vast majority of stunt performers are freelance contractors, paid on a project-by-project basis. Their annual income is a direct result of how many days they work, the nature of the stunts they perform, and their level of expertise.

The most reliable source for pay information is the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the union that governs most professional performers, including stunt professionals, in the United States. While non-union work exists, it typically pays less and offers fewer protections, so most career-focused performers aim for union membership.

### The Foundation: SAG-AFTRA Scale Rates

The baseline pay for a union stunt performer is known as "scale." This is the minimum amount a production must pay for a day's or a week's work.

According to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA Theatrical/Television contract, the minimum rates are:

Daily Rate: $1,181 per day
Weekly Rate: $4,129 per week (guarantees payment for a full week, even if not used every day)

Source: SAG-AFTRA 2023 Rate Sheet for Theatrical/Television

This means if a stunt performer works just one day on a movie set, they are guaranteed to make at least $1,181 before taxes and agent fees. If they are booked for four weeks on a major film, their baseline earnings for that project would be $16,516 ($4,129 x 4).

### The Real Money: Stunt Adjustments ("Bumps")

Scale pay is just the starting point. The real driver of a stunt performer's income comes from "stunt adjustments," commonly known as "bumps." A bump is additional compensation paid for a specific hazardous or difficult stunt performed on a given day. These are negotiated between the stunt coordinator and the production manager on behalf of the performer.

The value of a bump is determined by the perceived danger and difficulty of the stunt. There is no official schedule for bumps; they are entirely based on negotiation and industry precedent.

Examples of Stunt Bumps (Estimates):

Stair Fall (5-10 stairs): $250 - $750 bump
Basic Fight Scene (no major risks): $100 - $400 bump per day
Window-Through: $1,500 - $4,000 bump
Car Hit (low speed): $2,000 - $5,000 bump
High Fall (30-50 feet into an airbag): $3,000 - $10,000+ bump
Full Body Fire Burn (10-15 seconds): $7,000 - $20,000+ bump
Major Car Crash (e.g., a roll-over): $10,000 - $30,000+ bump

So, on a single day, a performer could earn their base rate of $1,181 plus a significant adjustment. For instance, a performer doing a car hit might earn $1,181 (scale) + $4,000 (bump) = $5,181 for one day of work. This is how top-tier performers can earn substantial incomes.

### Annual Salary: The Reality of Freelance Work

Because of the project-based nature of the job, calculating a true "average salary" is misleading. One performer might work 150 days in a year, while another, equally skilled, might only find 40 days of work.

Payscale reports a median annual salary for a Stunt Performer at approximately $70,000, with a range from $29,000 to $201,000.
Salary.com has a more limited data set but places the range for a "Stunt Person" between $59,969 and $82,301.
Glassdoor lists a wider range, with some self-reported incomes exceeding $150,000.

These figures from aggregators should be viewed with caution, as they are based on self-reported data and can't fully capture the complexity of stunt adjustments and freelance income streams.

A more realistic breakdown based on experience and workload is as follows:

| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

| Entry-Level/Aspiring | 10-30 work days per year | $12,000 - $35,000 | Often relies on non-union work or very basic union jobs with no bumps. Income is heavily supplemented by other jobs. This stage is focused on gaining experience and union vouchers. |

| Mid-Career/Journeyman | 50-100 work days per year | $60,000 - $150,000 | A working, union professional. Consistently booked for TV shows and films. Earns regular scale pay plus moderate stunt bumps for falls, fights, and driving. |

| Senior/In-Demand Specialist | 100-150+ work days per year | $150,000 - $400,000+ | Known for a specific, high-risk skill (e.g., fire burns, high falls, elite driving). Commands significant bumps and may work as an assistant coordinator. Sought out by coordinators for major blockbusters. |

| Stunt Coordinator | Hired per project (often for months) | $150,000 - $500,000+ | Moves from a daily/weekly rate to a project fee. Responsible for budgeting, hiring, and designing all stunts. Top coordinators on blockbuster films can earn over $1 million for a single project. |

### Other Compensation Components

Beyond daily rates and bumps, other factors contribute to a stunt performer's income:

Residuals: When a film or TV show is re-aired, streamed, or sold on DVD/Blu-ray, union performers receive residual payments. While a single stunt day might not yield huge residuals, a performer who works consistently over a decade can build a significant passive income stream.
Overtime: A standard shoot day is 8 hours. Any work beyond that is paid at time-and-a-half or double-time, per union rules.
Per Diem: For work that requires travel, productions provide a daily allowance (per diem) to cover food and lodging, which is not considered taxable income.
Agent/Manager Fees: Most professional stunt performers have an agent who helps them find work. This service typically costs 10% of their gross earnings. Union dues are another necessary expense.

In summary, the salary of a stuntman is not a fixed number but a potential earning range dictated by hustle, skill, reputation, and the courage to take on calculated, well-compensated risks.

Key Factors That Influence a Stunt Performer's Salary

A stunt performer's income is a complex equation with many variables. Two performers with the same union card can have vastly different annual earnings. Understanding the key factors that drive salary is essential for anyone looking to build a sustainable and lucrative career in this field. It’s not just about what you do, but where you do it, how well you do it, and what unique skills you bring to the table.

###

1. Area of Specialization

This is arguably the single most important factor influencing a stunt performer's salary. While a generalist who can take a fall or throw a punch is valuable, the highest earners are specialists known for their expertise in high-risk, high-skill disciplines. Production teams will pay a premium for a performer with a proven track record of safely and effectively executing a specific, hard-to-find skill. A stunt coordinator's worst nightmare is having to delay a multi-million dollar production because they can't find the right person for a crucial stunt.

High-Earning Specializations:
Stunt Driving (Cars, Motorcycles, Trucks): Precision drivers who can perform J-turns, 180s, drifts, and controlled crashes are constantly in demand. Those with a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) for trucks or experience with high-performance motorcycles can command even higher rates. A top-tier driver for a film like *Fast & Furious* can earn tens of thousands in bumps for a single sequence.
Fire Burns: This is one of the most dangerous and highest-paid stunts. A full-body burn requires incredible physical and mental fortitude, as well as a highly specialized support team. Bumps for a 15-second burn can easily exceed $20,000.
High Falls: Falling from significant heights (50-100+ feet) into an airbag or box rig is a technical skill. Performers who can control their bodies in the air to produce a specific look (e.g., a "dead man" fall) are invaluable. The higher the fall, the higher the pay.
Aquatic Stunts: Work involving scuba gear, breath-holding, and maneuvering in challenging water conditions (like wave tanks or open oceans) requires PADI or other diving certifications and specialized safety knowledge.
Equestrian Stunts: Horse work is a classic but highly specialized field. Performers who can do saddle falls, ride bareback, or handle teams of horses for chariot sequences are part of a small, elite group.
Wire Work & Rigging: While often overseen by a stunt rigger, the performers who are experts at being on the wires—making flying, being thrown, or floating look natural and dynamic—are crucial for superhero and sci-fi films.

A performer with multiple high-value specializations, such as a stunt driver who is also an expert in fight choreography, becomes a "utility player" that coordinators love to hire, leading to more work days and higher overall earnings.

###

2. Years of Experience and Reputation

In the stunt community, experience is synonymous with trust. A long career demonstrates not only skill but, more importantly, a commitment to safety and professionalism. A stunt coordinator is putting their reputation—and the safety of the entire crew—on the line with every hire. They will almost always choose a known, reliable performer over a talented but unproven newcomer.

Entry-Level (0-3 years): In the early years, performers focus on getting their SAG-AFTRA card and building a reputation. They take any job they can get, often as "ground pounders" in large battle scenes or performing basic falls. The pay is mostly scale, and the primary goal is networking and demonstrating reliability.
Mid-Career (4-15 years): By this stage, a performer has a solid network, a professional stunt reel, and a reputation for being good at a few specific things. They are regularly called by a handful of coordinators. They earn consistent scale pay and begin to get more significant stunt bumps. Their annual income becomes more stable, often falling in the $70k - $150k range.
Veteran/Senior Performer (15+ years): These are the established pros. They are on the shortlist for every major coordinator in town. They may be the personal stunt double for a major A-list actor, which guarantees them work whenever that actor is in a movie. They command the highest bumps and may transition into roles like Assistant Stunt Coordinator or Stunt Coordinator. Their income can easily reach $250,000 or more in a good year.

###

3. Geographic Location

The film and television industry is concentrated in a few key production hubs. A stunt performer's income is directly tied to their proximity to this work. While some travel is expected, being a local hire saves productions money on flights and hotels, making you a more attractive candidate.

Top-Tier Hubs (Highest Volume of Work & Pay):
Los Angeles, CA: The historical and current epicenter of the American film industry. While the cost of living is extremely high, the sheer volume of film, television, and commercial work provides the most opportunities.
Atlanta, GA: Thanks to generous tax incentives, Atlanta has become a massive production hub, often dubbed "Hollywood of the South." Many major Marvel, Netflix, and studio films shoot here, creating a huge demand for local stunt talent.
New York, NY: A major center for television production (especially procedural dramas like *Law & Order*) and large-scale films. The work is plentiful, but like LA, the cost of living is a significant factor.
Secondary Hubs (Strong & Growing Markets):
Vancouver & Toronto, Canada: These Canadian cities are major North American production centers, offering a constant stream of work for performers who can legally work in Canada.
New Orleans, LA & Albuquerque, NM: Also buoyed by tax credits, these cities have robust and growing film communities with consistent demand for stunt professionals.
London, UK: The primary hub for European and major international productions, with a world-class stunt community.

A performer trying to build a career from a state with no significant production industry will find it nearly impossible to make a living, as they will not be on the local coordinators' radar and will be too expensive to fly in for all but the most specialized roles.

###

4. Type and Budget of Production

The source of the funding for a project directly impacts the pay scale. Union rules set the *minimum* pay, but high-budget productions have more room for negotiation, especially for stunt bumps.

Major Studio Feature Films (e.g., Disney, Warner Bros., Universal): These have the largest budgets and pay the most. They demand the best talent and are willing to pay top dollar for complex, large-scale stunt sequences. The highest bumps and most lucrative contracts are found here.
High-Budget Streaming (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+): These platforms are now competing directly with major studios, with massive budgets for their tentpole series and films. They adhere strictly to union scale and have ample budget for significant stunt adjustments.
Network & Cable Television Series: A TV series offers the potential for steady work. A stunt performer booked as a double for a main character on a 22-episode series can have a very stable and predictable income for the duration of the show's run.
Commercials: Commercial shoots are short but can be surprisingly lucrative. A national commercial can pay several times the daily scale rate, and the residuals can be substantial if the ad runs for a long time.
Independent Films: Low-budget indie films have very little money for stunts. They typically operate on a minimum SAG-AFTRA low-budget agreement, which has a lower scale rate. Bumps are minimal or non-existent. Performers often take these jobs to gain experience or work on a passion project.
Live Shows (e.g., theme parks): A stunt performer in a live show like the *WaterWorld* show at Universal Studios or an Indiana Jones-themed show at Disney is in a different category. They are often salaried employees rather than freelance contractors. This provides a very stable, predictable income (e.g., $60,000 - $90,000 annually) and benefits, but without the high-end earning potential of film and TV bumps.

###

5. In-Demand Foundational Skills (The "Stunt Toolbox")

While specialization drives top-tier pay, a broad base of foundational skills makes a performer more hirable and able to work more days. The more "boxes" you can tick on a casting notice, the more valuable you are. These skills may not always command a specific bump, but they get you in the door.

Gymnastics & Tumbling: The ability to fall, roll, and have exceptional body control is the bedrock of stunt work.
Martial Arts: Proficiency in multiple styles (e.g., Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kali, Krav Maga) is essential for fight scenes. Screen fighting is different from competitive fighting, so training in that specific discipline is key.
Parkour/Freerunning: Essential for modern action sequences involving climbing, vaulting, and navigating urban environments.
Weapons Handling: Training in firearms (safety and handling), swordplay (various styles), and staff fighting.
SCUBA Certification: A non-negotiable for any underwater work.
Basic Rigging Knowledge: Understanding the principles of wire work, even if not a certified rigger, makes you safer and more effective on the wire.

Essentially, the more skills a performer has, the more versatile they are. This versatility leads to more frequent employment, which in turn builds a higher and more consistent annual salary.

Job Outlook and Career Growth for Stunt Professionals

The demand for skilled stunt professionals is intrinsically linked to the health and trajectory of the film and television industry. As long as audiences crave action, adventure, and spectacle, there will be a need for the artists who create those moments. The outlook for this career is a dynamic mix of explosive growth in some areas and evolving challenges in others.

### Job Growth and Industry Demand

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not track "stunt performers" as a distinct category. They are included within the broader category of "Actors." For this group, the BLS projects a job growth rate of 8% from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The BLS attributes this growth to the increasing number of productions across various platforms.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, "Actors" (Data retrieved for the 2022-2032 decade).

This 8% figure, however, only tells part of the story for the stunt community. Several industry-specific trends suggest the demand for stunt professionals is even more robust:

1. The Streaming Wars: The proliferation of streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and others has created an unprecedented demand for original content. Many of these platforms are heavily investing in the action, sci-fi, and fantasy genres, all of which are stunt-intensive. This "content boom" has led to more projects being greenlit simultaneously, stretching the available pool of experienced stunt talent and creating opportunities for newcomers.

2. The Rise of the "Mega-Franchise": Studios are increasingly reliant on massive, interconnected franchises (e.g., the Marvel Cinematic Universe, *John Wick*, *Mission: Impossible*). These films and their spin-off series are built around spectacular, practical stunt work, ensuring a steady stream of high-budget projects for the foreseeable future.

3. Global Production Growth: As streaming services expand into international markets, they are producing content globally, creating opportunities for stunt professionals in hubs around the world, not just in Hollywood.

### Emerging Trends and Future Challenges

The career is not without its challenges and evolutions. Staying relevant and employed requires adapting to new technologies and industry shifts.

CGI vs. Practical Stunts: For years, there was a fear that computer-generated imagery (CGI) would replace stunt performers. The opposite has often proven true. While CGI is used to erase wires and safety equipment or to create environments, directors

Beyond the Dare: An In-Depth Guide to the Salary of a Stuntman, Career Path, and Landing the Role

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