Top Chicago PD Cast Salaries and Earnings
Jason Beghe, who stars as Sergeant Hank Voight, earns one of the highest reported salaries on Chicago PD. Public reports and industry estimates place his per-episode pay in the upper range for long-running network dramas, with his total annual compensation from the show exceeding several million dollars when including backend participation. His tenure as the lead character anchors the series and supports his position as the top earner on the cast. Forbes TV actor pay breakdown
Mariska Hargitay, who appears on Chicago PD in a recurring capacity, commands a separate high salary from her primary role on Law & Order: SVU, which often intersects with the Chicago franchise through crossovers. Her per-episode earnings on SVU are widely reported to be among the highest for any drama actor, and her involvement in Chicago PD adds incremental compensation layered on top of that base. Forbes TV actor pay breakdown
Contract Structure and Pay Scale for Chicago PD Actors
Chicago PD cast salaries are shaped by standard network television contracts that include base per-episode fees, guaranteed seasons, and renewal options. Lead actors typically negotiate per-episode rates that increase with each new season, and long-tenured cast members can secure backend profit participation, syndication bonuses, and streaming residuals. The structure mirrors agreements seen in other long-running procedural dramas produced by Wolf Films and Universal Television under NBCUniversal. SEC Edgar filings for NBCUniversal
Supporting cast members on Chicago PD earn per-episode fees that scale with billing order and tenure, with recurring and guest actors receiving lower rates aligned with guild minimums and negotiated bumps. The Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA contracts set baseline pay floors, while top-billed actors often secure above-scale deals that include per-episode bonuses tied to ratings performance and international licensing revenue. SAG-AFTRA contract details
Comparison of Chicago PD Salaries with Other Procedural Dramas
When benchmarked against other long-running police procedurals, Chicago PD cast salaries sit in the mid-to-upper tier for broadcast network dramas. The show's longevity, consistent ratings, and position in the NBC Wednesday lineup give the cast leverage in salary negotiations, especially for actors who have remained on the series for multiple seasons. NBC Chicago PD official page
Per-episode pay for core Chicago PD cast members compares favorably with other Wolf Films productions such as Law & Order and FBI, though top-tier stars on competing cable and streaming procedurals may command higher per-episode fees due to different financing models and backend structures. The show's production by Wolf Films and Universal Television, combined with its broadcast network model, shapes a compensation framework that balances scale, longevity, and profit-sharing opportunities. Deadline Hollywood industry salary reports