Screenwriters

Wages for screenwriters are nearly impossible to track. Some screenwriters make hundreds of thousands of dollars from their scripts, while others write and film their own scripts without any payment at all, relying on backers and loans. Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas made entertainment news in the early 1990s when he received $3 million for each of his treatments for Basic Instinct, Jade, and Showgirls. In the early 2000s, many scripts by first-time screenwriters were sold for between $500,000 and $1 million. Typically, a writer will earn a percentage (approximately 1 percent) of the film's budget. Obviously, a lower budget film pays considerably less than a big production, starting at $15,000 or less.

According to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) 2023 Theatrical and Television Basic Agreement (which runs through May 1, 2026), earnings for writers of an original screenplay ranged from $90,904 to $170,655 during the 5/2/25–5/1/26 segment of the contract.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that writers employed in the motion picture and video industries had mean annual earnings of $129,930 in May 2023. Those who worked in radio and television broadcasting earned $102,970.

Screenwriters who are WGA members are also eligible to receive health benefits.