On the latest episode of Saturday Night Live, Colin Jost found himself the subject of some lighthearted ribbing during a Weekend Update segment. 

Mikey Day, playing the medieval character Lord Gaga—Lady Gaga’s fictional husband—joked about Jost’s salary compared to that of his wife, Scarlett Johansson. 

The amusing exchange raised a few eyebrows and got people thinking: How much do SNL cast members actually earn?

In the sketch, Lord Gaga, upon learning that his wife is a wealthy pop star, turned to Jost and casually asked, “What does your wife do?” 

The line, poking fun at the disparity in earnings between Jost and Johansson, highlighted the enormous difference in their respective paychecks.

It’s no secret that Johansson, one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses, makes significantly more money than Jost. 

In fact, her earnings far outpace what he likely brings home from SNL. But the question remains: how much do the cast members of the long-running sketch show actually earn?

The salary for SNL stars varies widely, depending on their experience and popularity. Newcomers to the show, like Pete Davidson in his first year, reportedly made around $3,000 per episode. Given that SNL typically airs between 18 to 22 episodes per season, this would mean Davidson earned between $54,000 and $66,000 for the season.

For cast members in their second and third years, salaries can increase to about $4,000 per episode. That would amount to around $84,000 for a typical 21-episode season. As cast members continue to grow in prominence, their paychecks increase as well. By their fourth year, an SNL star might make $7,000 per episode, or roughly $147,000 for the season.

After five years on the show, SNL cast members can make up to $15,000 per episode. This would result in a total of $315,000 for the season. However, the highest-paid stars on SNL cap out at $25,000 per episode, which translates to $525,000 for the full season.

Jost, who also serves as the co-host of Weekend Update, is reportedly in this top-tier salary bracket. Though Jost has never publicly disclosed his exact salary, it’s widely speculated that his long-standing role on the show and his fame as a prominent writer and performer have likely earned him a spot among the highest-paid cast members. Still, even at that rate, Jost’s earnings are still a mere fraction of Scarlett Johansson’s pay. For example, Johansson earned a reported $35 million for her role in Avengers: Endgame, a single movie.

Interestingly, despite these seemingly high numbers, many SNL cast members, particularly in their early years, don’t make enough to live lavishly. Jason Sudeikis, who was on SNL from 2005 to 2013, revealed in a recent interview that early in his career, he struggled financially. “I don’t think you make enough money to make big purchases,” Sudeikis admitted. “New York rent was probably the biggest purchase I made after writing on SNL the first year.”

Even Pete Davidson, who has since made a name for himself with other projects, was candid about the modest start he had on the show. He confirmed that in his first year, he was earning just $3,000 per episode, which hardly made him a millionaire.

Other cast members, such as James Austin Johnson, have shared their first purchases with their SNL paychecks. Johnson admitted he bought “the most uncomfortable West Elm couch of all time” with his earnings. Similarly, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who appeared on SNL in the 1980s, said she splurged on a pair of $75 shoes.

While these anecdotes reveal that the early years on SNL aren’t always financially rewarding, they also underscore the unique journey each cast member takes. As cast members gain more experience and fame, their salaries tend to rise, reflecting their growing visibility and popularity.

Despite the varying salaries, SNL remains one of the most coveted gigs in television, with high-profile stars like Jost, Davidson, and others using it as a springboard for more lucrative opportunities in both television and film. Even with his reported $525,000 salary, Jost is in the fortunate position of using SNL as a platform for his own career success.

Ultimately, while SNL stars might not always make the huge paydays seen in Hollywood blockbusters, they can still carve out a significant niche in the entertainment industry. And for those lucky enough to reach the top tier of SNL salaries, it’s certainly not a bad payday—just not quite as lavish as Scarlett Johansson’s, at least for now.

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