Voice Over Rates & Guides

Non-Union refers to actors who aren’t members of SAG-AFTRA. This could be by choice or they could live in “right to work” state. Most NU actors are just getting started, learning taking classes and building their resume. 

Project-wise, if your company isn't a SAG-AFTRA signatory, they don’t have to follow SAG-AFTRA guidelines.

The sad truth is that a large percentage of non-union actors aren't actually actors, at least not right away. You never really know what you are getting and they don't really know what they should be charging for their voice over service. 

Luckily The VOC is here to set a suggested guidance for best practices when displaying rates.

Bottom line, even though it's non-union agents and casting directors are your best way to find legit talent at fair rates.  

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The VOC stands behind the suggested non union rate guidelines set forth by the GVAA. You can find those below.

The union is SAG-AFTRA. The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and they have been around separately since the 1930s. They merged in 2012.  Like all unions, they use collective bargaining to institute policies and rate structures.

The Union rates are usually in a "scale" form.  It refers to a rate structure agreement set by SAG-AFTRA with companies that have signed an agreement to use union actors. Those companies (ad agencies, animation companies, video game companies, etc) are called Signatories.

A signatory is a company who has agreed to SAG’s collective bargaining rates and safety protocols, and in doing so, ensures that those rates and protocols are followed.

For ad agencies and advertisers that have agreements with SAG, there are specific talent payment agreements that must be followed. These can include residuals based on how and where a project is being used.

For the buyer, the choice comes down to budget. You want the best and most talented casting options that fit the allowed budget. Without a doubt SAG-AFTRA actors have more training, more experience, longer resumes and you can be 100% sure they are in fact legit actors. 

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There is also an option called Taft-Hartley. This allows you to cast from both Union and Non Union talent without limiting your options. If a non union talent is the best, all you do is fill out a Taft Hartly form and believe me, the talent will be overjoyed. This doesn't work the other way around. 

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That's not to say there aren't great voice actors that work non-union. But herein lies the issue of quality control. Anyone can say they’re a non-union actor. If you cast non-union, it would be wise to do so through reputable talent agents. They are your primary mechanism for quality control in the non-union world.

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One amazing way to find the best talent from an array of reputable agents is to hire a Casting Director.