Highest-Paid TV Actors & Actresses 2025: FULL LIST

It may seem like the big bucks come from starring in blockbuster films, but there’s a special place for standout roles in primetime television and the list of highest-paid TV actresses and actors for 2018 which was compiled by Forbes definitely tells that story.
The top earner in 2018 has been Modern Family star Sofia Vergara, who earned a whopping $42.5 million for her role on the show. To put that into perspective, Vergara nettedĀ $16 million more than the next person on the list.
Second-place honors went to Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons at $26.5 million, and he began a trend. The next two television stars on the list also came from Big Bang Theory with Johnny Galecki raking in a cool $25 million and Kaley Cuoco earning $24.5.
Rounding out the top five were the only other actors or actresses to earn more than $20 million in the year with — you guessed it — two Big Bang Theory stars Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar, and Grey’s Anatomy standout Ellen Pompeo earning $23.5 million.
Did your favorite actress or actor earn a spot on the highest-paid list in 2018?
A complete list can be seen below, via Forbes.com.


Highest Paid TV Actresses & Actors in 2018

1. Sofia Vergara

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoPkJoDAFHy/?hl=en&taken-by=sofiavergara

Earnings

$42.5 million

Television Show

Modern Family


2. Jim Parsons

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbAmFo_H4r_/?hl=en&taken-by=therealjimparsons

Earnings

$26.5 million

Television Show

Big Bang Theory


3. Johnny Galecki

https://www.instagram.com/p/BliYxiMBrd8/?hl=en&taken-by=sanctionedjohnnygalecki

Earnings

$25 million

Television Show

Big Bang Theory


4. Kaley Cuoco

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpIEpqnFDZs/?hl=en&taken-by=normancook

Earnings

$24.5 million

Television Show

Big Bang Theory


5. (tie) Ellen Pompeo

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgojiOZl4kp/?hl=en&taken-by=ellenpompeo

Earnings

$23.5 million

Television Show

Grey’s Anatomy


5. (tie) Simon Helberg

https://www.instagram.com/p/zSSQ4MFbhm/?hl=en&taken-by=simonhelbergoficial

Earnings

$23.5 million

Television Show

Big Bang Theory


5. (tie) Kunal Nayyar

https://www.instagram.com/p/BouAxtyg6Ml/?hl=en&taken-by=kunalkarmanayyar

Earnings

$23.5 million

Television Show

Big Bang Theory


8. Mark Harmon

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlbjozxFQpx/?hl=en&taken-by=markharmonofficial_

Earnings

$19 million

Television Show

NCIS


9. Ed O’Neill

https://www.instagram.com/p/mQ41CGpoyd/?hl=en&taken-by=_edoneill

Earnings

$14 million

Television Show

Modern Family


10. Eric Stonestreet

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmJvdB3AuSt/?hl=en&taken-by=ericstonestreet

Earnings

$13.5 million

Television Show

Modern Family


11. (tie) Jesse Tyler Ferguson

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmbvX-dg7UU/?hl=en&taken-by=jessetyler

Earnings

$13 million

Television Show

Modern Family


11. (tie) Mariska Hargitay

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn-Y_o0nYLS/?hl=en&taken-by=therealmariskahargitay

Earnings

$13 million

Television Show

Law & Order: SVU


13. Julie Bowen

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoiWVjsAu2H/?hl=en&taken-by=itsjuliebowen

Earnings

$12.5 million

Television Show

Modern Family


14. (tie) Mayim Bialik

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpZ-K5jBqfL/?hl=en&taken-by=missmayim

Earnings

$12 million

Television Show

Big Bang Theory


14. (tie) Melissa Rauch

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXhefdBAuaA/?hl=en&taken-by=themelissarauch

Earnings

$12 million

Television Show

Big Bang Theory


14. (tie) Ty Burrell

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWkTmFehqgs/?hl=en&taken-by=tygburrell

Earnings

$12 million

Television Show

Modern Family


17. (tie) Kerry Washington

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk6EXqWFeuL/?hl=en&taken-by=kerrywashington

Earnings

$11 million

Television Show

Scandal


17. (tie) Andrew Lincoln

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpZ4VJUgcFR/?hl=en&tagged=andrewlincoln

Earnings

$11 million

Television Show

The Walking Dead


19. Claire Danes

https://www.instagram.com/p/Be1HuKaByHi/?hl=en&taken-by=clairedanes

Earnings

$9 million

Television Show

Homeland


20. Pauley Perrette

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDL3UIQBoUU/?hl=en&taken-by=realpauleyp

Earnings

$8.5 million

Television Show

NCIS

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