The Annual Salary for Stand-Up Comedians
There are few jobs where the worker is more emotionally vulnerable than a stand-up comedian. Comedians face crowds night after night armed with nothing but pre-written material and an ability to improvise. Successful comedians, however, are rewarded for their nights in the clubs with endorsements, commercial work and contracts with large venues.
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Salary Range
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The salary range for a professional comedian varies according to her popularity and the frequency at which she works. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary of independent performers in 2009 was approximately $43 per hour. Comedians are typically paid on a per-show basis. The pay per show for comedians could be as low as $50 for a short set, or $1,000 or more for longer sets that draw large audiences. Professional comedians with national exposure could earn tens of thousands of dollars per appearance, especially in larger venues like arenas.
Work Requirements
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Comedians must constantly travel for their work -- to play at clubs, theaters and any other venue that can make money with comedy entertainment. To earn a sustainable income, comedians might be on the road for weeks at a time, playing venues far from their home. Additionally, comedians must constantly write material and tune their act. This involves throwing out material that does not work with audiences and testing new written material.
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Commercial Work
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Successful comedians can supplement their income from live performances with commercial acting work and film performances. For example, a comedian can audition for a television commercial and cite his work on stage as previous experience. Comedians can make $250 per day for work on smaller advertising campaigns, or thousands of dollars per day for national advertising commercials. Additionally, film roles, particularly feature film roles, offer comedians the opportunity to earn day rates and percentages of the film's gross income.
Regional Variation
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The annual salary of standup comedians varies by the region in which they primarily work. For example, cities with larger populations typically have more comedy clubs and performances. Cities with well-established entertainment industries, like Los Angeles and New York City, possess more comedy clubs than cities without roots in entertainment. Theater and film production companies typically use these larger markets to search for new comedic talent.
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References
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