The stunt performers are sometimes known as “movement professionals.” Stunt performers make their money by constantly moving around: stage fights, sword duels, jumps and falls, horseback riding, and vehicle crashes.
Stunt doubles are who step in for actors in difficult moments, and stunt performers who play different roles are both parts of the profession.
Stunt double school may not require official schooling, but it does require extensive training.
The exact mix of stunts varies per film; in westerns or swashbucklers, you could see horse-riding stunt doubles, but not in a “Star Wars” picture.
If you enjoy jumping off buildings, setting things on fire, or fighting zombies, becoming a stunt double may be the profession for you, and you might wonder how much do stunt doubles make since you want to work as one.
According to ZipRecruiter, San Jose pays 19.9% more salary to stunt doubles as compared to their national average salary. If you want to learn about their salary in detail, then keep reading!
Summary
| Guide | How Much Do Stunt Doubles Make? |
|---|---|
| Average Income | $34,873 per year |
| Highest Income | $250,00 per year |
| Education Qualification | Not compulsary |
| Training | Not compulsary |
Who Are Stunt Doubles?
A stunt double is a person who does physical sequences for film or television that is potentially risky or difficult for an actor or actress to complete.
Doubles are frequently utilize in action scenes to do stunts such as fighting or jumping off buildings, but they can also perform any feat that an actor or actress cannot physically perform for a part, such as horseback riding or swimming.
A professional stunt double is frequently competent in a number of physical talents, such as karate, gymnastics, or climbing, which can assist them to stay safe when doing stunts.
When a double stunt substitutes in for an actor or actress during a scene, it is usually recorded from a distance so that the viewer is unaware of the presence of a double.
Despite the fact that stunt doubles do not have any speaking roles or close-ups, they must bear a physical similarity to the persons they are standing for in order for the transition to be smooth.
How Much Do Stunt Doubles Make?
The Screen Actors Guild represents stunt performers since they are unionized, and it gives a certain amount of money to stunt doubles.
Although not all stunt labor is unionized, working a non-union production after receiving your union card is against the regulations.
Working union scale earns you roughly $1,005 per day, plus residuals and incentives according to the complexity of the feats you’re performing.
You may earn more if you work as a stunt double for a renowned celebrity.
There’s no assurance, as with other sorts of acting, that you’ll be working full-time, week after week, and earning that kind of money. According to ZipRecruiter, the typical stunt worker earns $34,873 per year.
1. How Much Do Stunt Doubles Make in an Hour?
Stunt Doubles make a minimum of $7.69 an hour and a maximum of $34.13 an hour.
2. How Much Do Stunt Doubles Make in a Month?
Stunt Doubles make a minimum of $1,333 a month and a maximum of $5,917 a month.
3. How Much Do Stunt Doubles Make in a Year?
Stunt Doubles make a minimum of $16,000 a year and a maximum of $71,000 a year.
How much do stuntmen make per stunt?
The amount stuntmen make per stunt varies greatly and is highly dependent on the level of risk associated with the stunt, as well as the experience and reputation of the stuntman.
Generally speaking, a rookie stuntman might earn anywhere from $50 to $200 dollars for a single stunt, while more experienced professionals can easily earn five-figure payouts for particularly dangerous stunts.
In addition to the direct compensation for a stunt, stuntmen may also receive additional bonuses or royalties if their work helps to increase the box office success of a feature film.
Professional stunt coordinators, responsible for planning and executing complex stunts, can earn even more depending on their experience.
Highest Salary Of Stunt Doubles In 2023
When you are a stunt double, your salary is highly volatile due to the amount of work you might or not have.
If you are working all year long, which is not really common due to the season of the shootings, you can earn way more than the average implied here, or if you are a stunt double of a really famous actor/actress and you work too many hours on a famous show or movie, it is highly likely that your pay is going to be higher than the majority of the stunt doubles in the sector.
The highest salary of stunt doubles is about $250,000 annually, which is way higher than the annual average.
Is Being A Stunt Double Good Or Bad?
Being a stunt double is dangerous and requires a good amount of soft skills to get jobs in the sector.
However, if you like acting, being a part of shows and movies, and trying out dangerous things, you can try it as a career choice.
However, many people do not consider the stunt double career as good for many people.
Pros and Cons of Being A Stunt Double
Pros
- Good pay
- You get to meet celebrities
- You do not need any degree or education
- Get to build a network
Cons
- Dangerous job
- Low job security
How To Become A Stunt Double?
While there are colleges that offer stunt training, being a stunt performer is not the same as becoming a doctor.
Employers are more interested in your talents than in any official certifications or degrees.
Here’s how you can become a Stunt Double:
- Fighting style, weapons training, shooting, and .knowing how to simulate a fall or a gunshot injury are all valuable talents. Also, concentrating on a few areas, such as sword-fighting, and then widening your skillset afterward.
- Now you will have to start building a well-rounded portfolio where you can mention all the skills that you have learned.
- As crucial as your career skills are networking and interpersonal skills. Stunt coordinators don’t look for performers through talent agencies. They’re more likely to track you down since you attended the same classes or trained at the same dojo as them.
Richest Stunt Doubles In Hollywood
How Many Hours Does A Stunt Double Work?
A Stunt Double works for up to 14 hours a day, and they might also work for more than this depending on their requirement and the work schedule of the film or series. Also, you can be called anytime during the day and have to be available for the same.
What is the Starting Pay of Stunt Double Work?
The starting pay of a Stunt Double is $7.69 an hour or $1,333 a month. Because Stunt Doubles work for long hours, they get to make more money. Also, with time, you can make as much as $250,000 annually, which is quite a good amount.
Who is the highest paid stunt person?
Late Dar Robinson was named the highest-paid stunt double by the Guinness Book of Records. He used to get paid a staggering $100,000 per stunt. He even got offered minor roles in movies, but unfortunately, his career ended due to his untimely death at the age of 39.
Stunt Double Training Programs
There are seminars and lessons on how to do various feats that stunt training institutes offer.
Even though it is not really a necessity to work as a stunt double legally to have training beforehand, including a stunt training school on your resume will help you get noticed in the business and secure an interview.
It’s also a good idea to send as many experienced stunt coordinators as feasible a video of yourself executing multiple feats together with your résumé.
You can look up local training schools in your state or city and figure out which one is the best, as nearly all states have one training school that provides a training program to stunt doubles.
Things To Know Before You Choose To Become A Stunt Double
Conclusion
To conclude, being a stunt double is definitely not easy and most certainly dangerous.
Apart from the hardships of the job, it is also hard to get a job if you do not know people in the sector or have networking before you kick off your career.
You also might need to work additional jobs to cover your living expenses as there might not be jobs all the time.
FAQ
How much do stunt doubles make when they start off?
They make the lowest possible, which is lower than the average.
How much do stunt doubles make working as an apprenticeship?
Interns generally make even less than the lowest bracket as they do not earn full time.
How much do stunt doubles make when they have a decade of experience?
In this career, it is not your experience but rather your networking skills and what kind of shows or movies you play that determines your pay.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.
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