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Who were the reported highest-paid SNL cast members in 2021?
In an October 15, 2021 report, The Independent attributed salary estimates to Tuko and named Thompson, Jost, McKinnon, Strong, and Davidson at approximately $25,000 per episode each. The report did not distinguish among them, so the available figures support a shared reported tier, not a numbered ranking. The Independent’s report also characterized cast pay as a closely guarded secret.
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What other 2021 salary estimates were reported?
The same article included estimates for several other cast members. These are selected figures, not a complete salary list for the 2021 cast.
| Cast member | Reported amount | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Kenan Thompson | About $25,000 per episode | Estimate attributed to Tuko by The Independent, October 15, 2021 |
| Colin Jost | About $25,000 per episode | Estimate attributed to Tuko by The Independent, October 15, 2021 |
| Kate McKinnon | About $25,000 per episode | Estimate attributed to Tuko by The Independent, October 15, 2021 |
| Cecily Strong | About $25,000 per episode | Estimate attributed to Tuko by The Independent, October 15, 2021 |
| Pete Davidson | About $25,000 per episode | Estimate attributed to Tuko by The Independent, October 15, 2021 |
| Michael Che | About $15,000 per episode | Described as a rumor by The Independent, which attributed the estimate to Tuko |
| Heidi Gardner | About $8,000 per episode | Reported estimate attributed to Tuko by The Independent |
| Alex Moffat | Between $8,000 and $15,000 per episode | Described as rumored by The Independent, which attributed the estimate to Tuko |
How reliable are these reported salaries?
The estimates are not confirmed salaries. The Independent said SNL cast pay was closely guarded and used qualifying language such as “around” and “rumoured.” It described compensation as reportedly based on episodes and scaled by experience, but that is the article’s account of the pay structure—not an official NBC explanation.
No official salary dataset or confirmed cast-wide statistic establishes these amounts. The figures should not be converted into annual salaries: the cited report does not supply the episode count or contract terms needed to calculate yearly pay.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What later comments add—and what they do not prove
In December 2024, Thompson told Variety, “It’s pretty notorious that it’s more so about having the job than getting paid for the job.” As summarized by Us Weekly, he did not give a specific salary figure. His remark offers later context about compensation and disclosure, but it does not verify what he or other cast members earned in 2021. Us Weekly’s salary roundup also reports Davidson’s December 2024 quip that his first SNL paycheck was “like, three grand an episode”; that recollection is not evidence for the 2021 estimates above.
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These per-episode estimates also do not establish anyone’s total income or wealth. Work outside SNL is a separate matter, and the reporting cited here does not determine each performer’s full 2021 earnings.
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Sources
- Elizabeth Aubrey, The Independent, “SNL: How much do the cast get paid?”, October 15, 2021: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/snl-cast-salary-how-much-b1938827.html.
- Yana Grebenyuk, Us Weekly, “How Much Do ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast Members Make? What They Have Said About Their Salaries,” May 28, 2025: https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/how-much-do-snl-cast-members-make-what-they-have-said-about-salaries/.
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