# Day rate

Source: https://storiara.com/glossary/day-rate
Last updated: 2026-09-14
Author: Charles Hirschhorn, Storiara

> A day rate is compensation quoted for one day of work. For crew it is usually tied to a guaranteed number of hours, such as $450 for 12 hours, from which an hourly base rate and overtime are calculated. Cast day players, equipment rentals, and locations are also priced by the day.

## Turning a day rate into an hourly rate

A non-union camera operator's deal memo says $450/12. On a California shoot, overtime starts after 8 hours at 1.5x, so the 12 guaranteed hours are 8 straight hours plus 4 overtime hours:

Straight-time equivalent: 8 + (4 x 1.5) = 14 hours

Hourly base rate: $450 / 14 = $32.14

That $32.14 is the number payroll uses for everything past 12 hours, when the rate goes to double time: hour 13 pays $32.14 x 2 = $64.29. If you divided $450 by 12 and got $37.50, you'd overpay every overtime hour and put the wrong regular rate on the time card. The [overtime calculator](https://storiara.com/tools/overtime-calculator) does this conversion.

## Day rates for cast

Actors hired by the day are day performers, or day players. Under SAG-AFTRA's 2026 theatrical wage table the day performer minimum is $1,283 from July 1, 2026. The low budget agreements set their day rates as a percentage of that Basic rate:

| Agreement | Share of Basic | Day performer, from 7/1/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (theatrical) | 100% | $1,283 |
| Low Budget | 65% | $834 |
| Moderate Low Budget | 35% | $449 |
| Ultra Low Budget | 20% | $257 |

Check: $1,283 x 0.65 = $833.95, rounded to $834. See [SAG-AFTRA tiers](https://storiara.com/glossary/sag-aftra-tiers) for budget caps.

## Equipment and locations

Rental houses quote a day rate and a weekly rate, and the weekly rate is commonly a multiple of the day rate smaller than five, so a four-day need often costs the same as a week. Location fees are quoted per shoot day with separate, lower prep and strike day fees. Budget those as separate lines so a schedule change moves the right number.

## Day rate errors in budgets

Budgeting crew at a day rate with no stated hours, forgetting prep and wrap days at the same rate, and letting [kit rental](https://storiara.com/glossary/kit-rental) get folded into the day rate, which inflates the overtime base. Another is hiring someone "on a day rate" for a week and a half when a [weekly rate](https://storiara.com/glossary/weekly-rate) would have been cheaper. For typical non-union figures by position, see [film crew day rates](https://storiara.com/blog/film-crew-day-rates) and the [crew rate lookup](https://storiara.com/tools/crew-rate-lookup).

## Frequently asked questions

### What does $450/12 mean on a crew deal memo?

It means $450 for a 12-hour day. In a state with daily overtime, that $450 already includes the overtime for hours 9 through 12, so the hourly base rate is lower than $450 divided by 12.

### What is the SAG-AFTRA day rate?

It depends on the agreement. The theatrical Basic Agreement day performer minimum is $1,283 from July 1, 2026. The low budget agreements pay a percentage of that: $834 (Low Budget), $449 (Moderate Low Budget), and $257 (Ultra Low Budget).

### Is a day rate or weekly rate cheaper?

For crew and cast who work most of a week, weekly is usually cheaper. For someone working one or two days, a day rate costs less. The break-even point depends on the agreement or deal.

## Sources

- [SAG-AFTRA Theatrical Wage Table, 07/01/25 through 06/30/30](https://www.sagaftra.org/sites/default/files/2026%20Theatrical%20Wage%20Table.pdf)
- [SAG-AFTRA 2026 Low Budget Theatrical Agreement Rate Sheet](https://www.sagaftra.org/sites/default/files/LBA%20Rate%20Sheet%2026-30.pdf)
- [California Labor Code section 510](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=LAB&sectionNum=510)