Anyone planning on a career as an actor should put away any thoughts of a steady salary, at least in the early years. Before you quit your day job, pack up a van and move to Hollywood, it would be helpful to have some idea of what you could earn over the course of a year. Those who have a starring role are usually paid an upfront flat fee, in addition to any bonuses they may get if the film does very well. Background actors, on the other hand, are usually paid a daily fee.

Top-Tier Earners

Top Hollywood actors earned around $20 million per movie in 2017, according to the Hollywood Reporter. These actors may choose to do one movie a year, or several, depending on their schedules. In an industry where a solid performer can determine how many people will want to see a movie, it doesn't really matter if the film is a blockbuster theatrical release or going straight to Netflix. This was about how much Jennifer Lawrence earned, for example, for doing "Red Sparrow," as well as Dwayne Johnson for "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" and Will Smith for his role in "Bright" on Netflix.

Even smaller roles can pay top dollar if your name has enough drawing power. In 2017, Harrison Ford and Robert Downey Jr. each earned about $15 million for their roles in the latest Star Wars and Spider-Man releases, respectively.

Medium-Top Earners

Not all top actors earn top dollar, particularly if that actor is female. In 2017, Emma Watson earned only $3 million up front for her role in "Beauty and the Beast," although the film did so well that she later earned almost $20 million before the year was over. Jessica Chastain earned $700,000 for "Woman Walks Ahead."

Lower-Top Earners

Actors who land the lead role in a blockbuster movie don't always earn millions of dollars either. Gal Gadot and Henry Cavill, for example, weren't particularly well known before they became Wonder Woman and Superman, respectively. They each earned $150,000 to $300,000 for their first superhero films. The children who starred in the movie "It" earned between $65,000 and $75,000.

Background Actors

Those who are just starting out in the film industry should expect to make far more modest sums per film compared to anyone who gets a starring role. In fact, the odds of making it big as a film actor are more than one million to one. Most movies that you see in the theater employee actors through the Screen Actors Guild, which ensures the actors are compensated fairly for their roles.

A general background actor working in New York City or the Los Angeles area, including Hollywood, would expect to earn $162 per day in 2017. If the actor had a special ability, like an uncanny resemblance to the film's star that could make him a photo double, he'd have earned an extra $10 per day.