Actors' Equity Association
The labor union representing professional stage actors and stage managers in the United States
Overview
Actors' Equity Association (AEA) is the labor union for professional actors and stage managers working in live theater in the United States. It negotiates contracts with theater producers to ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and benefits for its members.
Membership requires either a qualifying Equity contract offer or completion of the Equity Membership Candidate (EMC) program, which involves accumulating 25 weeks of credited work at participating theaters. The initiation fee is $1,900 with annual dues of $176.
How It Works
Equity membership grants access to union-protected theater work on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theaters, and touring productions. Benefits include guaranteed minimum salaries, health insurance eligibility, pension contributions, and regulated rehearsal and performance schedules.
The $1,900 initiation fee can be paid in two installments, and annual dues are $176 plus 2.5 percent of gross earnings from Equity contracts. The EMC program provides a pathway to membership for actors working their way up through non-union and smaller theaters.
Who Uses It
Equity membership is essential for actors pursuing a professional theater career. The EMC program is an excellent path for emerging theater actors, as it provides union-adjacent experience while building toward full membership.
Pricing & Plans
The Actors' Equity initiation fee is $1,900, payable in two installments of $950. Annual base dues are $176, plus working dues of 2.5% of gross earnings from Equity contracts. The Equity Membership Candidate (EMC) program requires a $100 registration fee and involves accumulating 25 weeks of credited work at participating Equity theaters, providing a structured pathway to full membership for actors building their careers. Equity contracts set minimum weekly salaries that vary by contract type: Broadway minimums exceed $2,000 per week, while smaller regional theater contracts may start at several hundred dollars per week depending on the specific agreement. Health insurance requires minimum earnings in covered Equity work over a designated period, with the threshold varying based on the health plan tier. The pension plan vests after qualifying service years with minimum earnings thresholds, providing retirement security for career theater professionals.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Equity membership provides access to the highest-paying and most prestigious theater work in the country, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, major regional theaters, and national touring productions, with contractually guaranteed minimum salaries, health and pension benefits, and regulated working conditions. The union's contracts protect actors from exploitation through mandated rehearsal hour limits, required days off, safe working condition standards, and harassment protections that ensure performers are treated professionally throughout the production process. Equity's audition system, including the Equity Principal Audition (EPA) and Equity Chorus Call (ECC) systems, provides guaranteed audition access for union members that non-union actors cannot access, creating a structured pathway to be seen for professional theater work. The EMC program is one of the best-designed pathways to union membership in the entertainment industry, allowing aspiring theater actors to gain professional experience at participating theaters while accumulating weeks toward membership eligibility. Equity's collective bargaining power ensures that theater actors share in the financial success of profitable productions through contractual minimums and benefit contributions that reflect the essential role performers play in the industry. The union's safe and sanitary working condition requirements, injury protections, and workers' compensation provisions ensure that the physical demands of live performance are accompanied by appropriate safeguards.
What Could Be Better
The $1,900 initiation fee, while lower than SAG-AFTRA's $3,000, is still a significant investment for emerging theater actors who may be earning modest income from their performance work. Once you join Equity, you are restricted from performing in non-Equity productions under most circumstances, which can severely limit opportunities in smaller markets where the majority of theater work is non-union. The health insurance earnings threshold is difficult for many Equity members to reach, as theater work is often seasonal and the earnings from a single contract may not be sufficient to qualify for coverage during the off-season. Theater pay, even at Equity minimums, can be modest compared to film and television work, and many Equity members supplement their theater income with non-performing jobs during gaps between contracts. The EMC program's 25-week requirement means it can take years to accumulate enough qualifying weeks, particularly for actors who work at participating theaters only seasonally. Equity's audition systems, while providing guaranteed access, can involve long wait times, early morning sign-ins, and no guarantee of actually being seen if the appointment slots fill, which can be frustrating and time-consuming for busy working actors.
Our Recommendation
Equity membership is essential for any actor whose primary career goal is performing in professional theater on Broadway, Off-Broadway, or at major regional theaters in the United States. The EMC program is the recommended pathway for emerging theater actors, as it provides professional experience, resume credits, and a structured timeline to membership without the abrupt transition from non-union to union that can create career gaps. Actors who work primarily in film and television and only occasionally do theater should evaluate carefully whether Equity membership is necessary, as the restrictions on non-union theater work may outweigh the benefits if you do not audition for Equity productions regularly. In smaller markets where most theater work is non-union, joining Equity too early can effectively end your theater career by cutting off the majority of available opportunities. If you are offered an Equity contract but have not yet completed the EMC program, you can join directly through the contract, but consider whether you are ready for the commitment before accepting.
Pro Tips
If you are pursuing an EMC candidacy, research which participating theaters offer the most EMC weeks and plan your audition strategy to maximize week accumulation, as some theaters provide more qualifying weeks per contract than others. Once you join Equity, immediately familiarize yourself with the audition system — EPA and ECC schedules, online appointment booking, and the rules governing each audition type — so you can compete effectively for union theater work. Maintain your membership in good standing by paying dues on time, and track your earnings carefully to understand when you qualify for health insurance and pension benefits. Take advantage of Equity's member resources including the Equity library in New York, audition workshops, and member communications about industry developments and available opportunities. If you hold both SAG-AFTRA and Equity membership, understand the jurisdictions of each union and how they interact, as some projects fall under one union's jurisdiction while others fall under the other's.