NCIS Cast Pay Overview
NCIS cast pay reflects long-running CBS procedural salaries shaped by ratings, backend participation, and renegotiation cycles. The ensemble includes lead actors, supporting cast, and recurring performers whose compensation varies by role, tenure, and profit participation. For broader context on entertainment compensation structures, see the Forbes breakdown of TV actor pay. The show remains among the highest-rated dramas on American broadcast television, influencing per-episode fees for its principal cast.
Reported per-episode salaries for the lead actors have ranged into six figures, with senior cast members earning more than newer additions. Backend points, syndication shares, and streaming residuals can significantly increase total compensation beyond base fees. The series airs on CBS and is produced by CBS Studios, a division of Paramount Global, which sets compensation frameworks for its stable of long-running dramas.
Actor Salary Breakdown by Role
Mark Harmon, who portrayed Leroy Jethro Gibbs for much of the series, commanded one of the higher per-episode rates among the ensemble. Other long-tenured leads such as David McCallum and Pauley Perrette also negotiated strong base fees during their runs. The show's production company, Belisarius Productions, works within CBS Studios' overall deal structures to set pay bands for principal players.
Newer cast members typically enter at lower per-episode rates, with raises tied to contract extensions, ratings milestones, and audience retention metrics. Recurring and guest actors receive per-episode fees that are lower than the leads but can include bonuses for multi-episode arcs. For a comparison of how major studios structure talent deals, see the SEC filing index for Paramount Global.
Contracts, Profit Participation, and Total Earnings
NCIS cast pay packages often include profit participation clauses that share in the show's backend revenues from syndication, streaming, and international licensing. The series has aired in reruns across multiple platforms, generating ongoing residuals for cast members with appropriate contract language. Streaming rights for NCIS are managed by Paramount+, the company's direct-to-consumer platform, which influences how backend revenues are calculated and distributed.
Total earnings for top NCIS cast members combine base per-episode fees, profit shares, and potential bonuses for syndication deals. The show's longevity gives its principal actors leverage in renegotiations, as their departure could affect ratings and franchise value. For more on how entertainment companies report talent costs, see the Forbes analysis of TV production costs and the SEC EDGAR filings for CBS Corporation.