Hugh Laurie had the highest reported per-episode rate among the House M.D. cast members covered by credible contemporaneous reporting: more than US$400,000 in 2011. Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps, and Robert Sean Leonard were each reported at about US$175,000 per episode that year. These figures support a partial, date-labeled ranking—not a verified salary list for the entire cast.
Reported House M.D. salaries per episode
The clearest like-for-like comparison available here comes from May 2011 reporting. TVWeek reported Laurie at more than US$400,000 per episode and Edelstein, Epps, and Leonard at about US$175,000 each. The report described the three co-stars as being asked to appear in fewer episodes and accept pay reductions as the production sought to cut costs. TVWeek’s 2011 report does not establish that the figures applied identically to every episode or throughout the season.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![House: The Complete Series [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/516CsvoO85L._SL160_.jpg)
|
House: The Complete Series [DVD] | $39.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
House, M.D. (The Complete Series Seasons 1-8) | $69.36 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
House, M.D.: The Complete Series | $65.77 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
House, M.D.: The Complete Series | $69.36 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![House (Complete Series) - 46-DVD Box Set ( House M.D. ) ( Dr. House - Seasons 1-8 (176 Episodes) ) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Germany ]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41FdMYSjOOL._SL160_.jpg)
|
House (Complete Series) - 46-DVD Box Set ( House M.D. ) ( Dr. House - Seasons 1-8 (176 Episodes) ) [... | $190.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| Actor | Role | Reported rate | Reporting date | Source and certainty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hugh Laurie | Dr. Gregory House | More than US$400,000 per episode | 2011 | TVWeek report; reported rate, not a complete season contract accounting. Source |
| Lisa Edelstein | Dr. Lisa Cuddy | About US$175,000 per episode | 2011 | TVWeek report; reported rate. Source |
| Omar Epps | Dr. Eric Foreman | About US$175,000 per episode | 2011 | TVWeek report; reported rate. Source |
| Robert Sean Leonard | Dr. James Wilson | About US$175,000 per episode | 2011 | TVWeek report; reported rate. Source |
This is the strongest defensible ranking from the available reporting: Laurie first, followed by the three co-stars at approximately the same reported level. It is not a complete cast ranking, and the evidence does not establish precise contract equality among those three.
How Laurie’s reported rate changed
Laurie’s reported pay rose over the series’ run, so a single number without a date can mislead. Reuters, in a report published by ABC News in September 2008, said an increase in 2006 had brought his rate to US$250,000–US$300,000 per episode. The same report said his salary was expected to rise to about US$400,000 per episode under a new pact with Universal Media Studios. Reuters via ABC News
#1 Best Overall
- Movie dvd
- After a 2006 increase: US$250,000–US$300,000 per episode, as described in 2008 reporting.
- New pact reported in 2008: about US$400,000 per episode expected.
- 2011 report: more than US$400,000 per episode.
These are reported rates from separate points in time, and the 2008 figure was described as expected. They should not be treated as interchangeable or as proof of what Laurie received for every episode.
Why there is no reliable full-cast ranking
Contemporaneous reporting supports the four names above, but not a single-season salary table for every actor who appeared on House M.D. A secondary salary roundup gives additional estimates, yet acknowledges assumptions for some cast members. Those estimates are not strong enough to rank the wider ensemble as confirmed figures. The secondary roundup
- Per-episode rates can change over time; a year or season is essential context.
- Actors did not necessarily appear in the same number of episodes, so a rate alone cannot establish season earnings.
- The 2011 report described requests for reduced episode counts and pay for three co-stars, which further cautions against treating one rate as universal across a season.
The same secondary roundup claims Laurie reached US$700,000 per episode in the final season. That figure is not corroborated by the contemporaneous Reuters and TVWeek reports cited here, so it should be treated as an unverified secondary estimate rather than the basis of a definitive ranking. Roundup and its estimates
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the figures do—and do not—answer
For the best-documented 2011 comparison, Laurie was reported above US$400,000 per episode, while Edelstein, Epps, and Leonard were each reported at about US$175,000. Earlier reporting places Laurie at US$250,000–US$300,000 after a 2006 raise and says about US$400,000 was expected under a 2008 pact. Beyond those dated reports, the available figures do not establish a complete or consistently comparable salary ranking for the whole cast.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- House (Complete Series) - 46-DVD Box Set ( House M.D. ) ( Dr. House - Seasons 1-8 (176 Episodes) )
- House (Complete Series) - 46-DVD Box Set
- House M.D.
- Dr. House - Seasons 1-8 (176 Episodes)
Rank #4
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
