Official minimum Union floor for a journey-level BG painter
$64.94/hr
About $135,075 a year at full time (TAG master agreement, 8/2/26-7/31/27).
What this means for you
- At a TAG master-agreement studio, a journey BG painter can't legally be paid under $64.94/hr.
- Some studios (like Sony) have their own contract with different steps. Check the studio page.
- Freelance and non-union work often pays much less. See the union gap on the Pay home page.
See all numbers
Official minimum TAG master scale (21-032)
| Step | Hourly | Per year | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st 6 months | $61.23/hr | $127,358/yr | 8/2/26-7/31/27 | |
| 2nd 6 months | $62.62/hr | $130,250/yr | 8/2/26-7/31/27 | |
| Journey | $64.94/hr | $135,075/yr | 8/2/26-7/31/27 |
Self-reported Self-reported (n=16, median $114,400/yr, 2022–2024)
| Studio | n | Average | Median | Years | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titmouse | 4 | $106,600/yr | $114,400/yr | 2022–2024 | |
| (not stated) | 4 | $107,258/yr | $112,200/yr | 2022 | |
| Netflix | 2 | $137,800/yr | $137,800/yr | 2022 | low sample |
| WB Animation | 2 | $117,629/yr | $117,629/yr | 2022 | low sample |
| Floyd County Productions | 1 | $43,680/yr | $43,680/yr | 2022 | low sample |
| Nickelodeon | 1 | $114,400/yr | $114,400/yr | 2022 | low sample |
| ShadowMachine | 1 | $107,224/yr | $107,224/yr | 2022 | low sample |
| Cartoon Network | 1 | $113,859/yr | $113,859/yr | 2023 | low sample |
Source: SaltyAnimators sheet. Annualized at 2,080 hrs.
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