# SAG-AFTRA tiers

Source: https://storiara.com/glossary/sag-aftra-tiers
Last updated: 2026-09-14
Author: Charles Hirschhorn, Storiara

> SAG-AFTRA tiers are the union's budget-based agreements for independent theatrical films shot in the US. The Ultra Low Budget agreement covers films up to $300,000, Moderate Low Budget covers under $700,000, and Low Budget covers under $2,000,000, each with day rates set as a percentage of the Basic Agreement minimum.

## The tiers side by side

All figures below are from SAG-AFTRA's 2026 rate sheets, effective July 1, 2026, and the union's production center pages. The P&H figure is the pension and health contribution effective September 6, 2026.

| | Ultra Low Budget (UPA) | Moderate Low Budget (MPA) | Low Budget (LBA) | Basic theatrical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget limit | No more than $300,000 | Under $700,000 | Under $2,000,000 | Above the tiers |
| With incentives | n/a | $950,000 (diversity); +$112,000 (background) | $3,000,000 (diversity) | n/a |
| Rate basis | 20% of Basic | 35% of Basic | 65% of Basic | 100% |
| Day performer | $257 | $449 | $834 | $1,283 |
| Weekly performer | Not allowed | $1,560 | $2,896 | $4,456 |
| Background actors | Not covered | Only under the background incentive | Covered in applicable zones | Covered |
| P&H, performers | 22% | 22% | 22% | per agreement |

Rates go up 3% each July 1 through 2029.

## Why the tier matters to the budget

Say a film has 60 performer days, all day players. The cast cost with P&H at 22%:

- UPA: 60 x $257 = $15,420, plus $3,392.40 P&H = $18,812.40
- MPA: 60 x $449 = $26,940, plus $5,926.80 P&H = $32,866.80
- LBA: 60 x $834 = $50,040, plus $11,008.80 P&H = $61,048.80

A budget that creeps from $690,000 to $710,000 without an incentive can move a film from the MPA to the LBA, and in this example that adds $61,048.80 - $32,866.80 = $28,182 to the cast line alone. The cap is measured against the full [production budget](https://storiara.com/glossary/production-budget), including [deferred pay](https://storiara.com/glossary/deferred-pay).

## Applying

Every tier requires signing on as a [signatory](https://storiara.com/glossary/signatory). SAG-AFTRA asks producers to apply four to six weeks before the first day of work, and it wants the shooting script, [day out of days](https://storiara.com/glossary/day-out-of-days), and a line item budget, plus company formation and chain of title documents. The union decides which agreement fits the project.

## Details by tier

Each agreement has its own rules on overtime, sixth days, consecutive employment, and background actors. See the [Ultra Low Budget agreement](https://storiara.com/glossary/ultra-low-budget-agreement), [Moderate Low Budget agreement](https://storiara.com/glossary/moderate-low-budget-agreement), and [Low Budget agreement](https://storiara.com/glossary/low-budget-agreement) entries, and [pension and health](https://storiara.com/glossary/pension-and-health) for how contributions are calculated. Crew unions have their own budget tiers; see [understanding tier projects](https://storiara.com/blog/understanding-tier-projects-how-budget-size-affects-crew-rates).

## Frequently asked questions

### What are the SAG-AFTRA budget tiers for 2026?

Ultra Low Budget: total budget no more than $300,000, day performers only at $257. Moderate Low Budget: under $700,000, $449 a day or $1,560 a week. Low Budget: under $2,000,000, $834 a day or $2,896 a week. Rates are effective July 1, 2026.

### What happens if my film goes over the SAG-AFTRA tier cap?

SAG-AFTRA can reclassify the project to the appropriate agreement, and the producer then owes performers the additional compensation that agreement would have required. The union reviews a detailed budget, the script, and a day out of days up front partly to catch this.

### Do deferred fees count toward the SAG-AFTRA budget limit?

Yes. The Ultra Low and Moderate Low Budget agreements define total production cost as all above-the-line and below-the-line costs, including deferred compensation.

### Can a Moderate Low Budget film go over $700,000?

Qualifying for the Diversity-in-Casting Incentive raises the cap to $950,000, and the Background Actor Incentive raises it by $112,000.

## Sources

- [SAG-AFTRA 2026 Ultra Low Budget Project Agreement Rate Sheet](https://www.sagaftra.org/sites/default/files/2025-10/Current%20Ultra%20Low%20Budget%20Project%20Agreement%20(UPA)%20Rate%20Sheet.pdf)
- [SAG-AFTRA 2026 Moderate Low Budget Project Agreement Rate Sheet](https://www.sagaftra.org/sites/default/files/MPA%20Rate%20Sheet%2026-30.pdf)
- [SAG-AFTRA 2026 Low Budget Theatrical Agreement Rate Sheet](https://www.sagaftra.org/sites/default/files/LBA%20Rate%20Sheet%2026-30.pdf)
- [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 Production Center: Moderate Low Budget Project, getting started](https://www.sagaftra.org/production-center/contract/815/getting-started)
- [SAG-AFTRA Production Center: Low Budget Theatrical, getting started](https://www.sagaftra.org/production-center/contract/814/getting-started)