Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, Katherine Heigl

Publish date: 2024-04-25

Credit: Getty Images

Grey’s Anatomy Cast Salary Per Episode: How Much Does Each Doctor Make?
As ABC’s longest-running medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy has remained a beloved primetime program for almost two decades. Dozens of doctors have scrubbed in and out, and some of the show’s stars (like Ellen Pompeo) have skyrocketed in popularity – bumping their salaries and net worths year after year. Wondering what about the Grey’s Anatomy cast salaries? Keep reading to find out.
Grey’s Anatomy is ABC’s popular medical show, which focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in Seattle, Washington. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the show debuted in 2005 and earned over 38 Primetime Emmy nominations after almost two decades. ABC renewed Grey’s Anatomy for a 20th season, which premiered on March 14, 2024.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Rhimes recalled giving Ellen Pompeo advice before the lead actress entered into salary negotiations (Pompeo ultimately landed a deal for $20 million per season in 2018). “Decide what you think you’re worth and then ask for what you think you’re worth. Nobody’s just going to give it to you,” the creator said. “As a woman, what I know is you can’t approach anything from a point of view of ‘I don’t deserve’ or ‘I’m not going to ask for because I don’t want other people to get upset.’”
As fans head into the latest season of Grey’s Anatomy, find out how much current and past cast members, including Ellen Pompeo, James Pickens Jr., Patrick Dempsey, Chandra Wilson, Katherine Heigl, and more, have made per episode over the years.
7. Kim Raver (Teddy Altman)
Salary: Unknown
Kim Raver was first introduced in Grey’s Anatomy Season 6. The actress recurred on the show for three seasons before exiting in Season 8. Raver returned six years later, in 2017, and has remained on the show ever since. Her current salary is unknown, but it’s likely more than $100,000 per episode.
In 2020, Ravers and her co-stars Camilla Luddington and Kevin McKidd signed new multi-year contracts to continue on Grey’s Anatomy, although the amount was not revealed by ABC.
6. (Tied) Camilla Luddington (Jo Wilson)
Salary: $83,000+
Camilla Luddington joined the cast of Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Jo Wilson in 2012. The Richest reported that her income was $83,000 per episode, although it’s likely much north of that as she’s still a series regular as of Season 20, which returned in 2024. The British actress’ net worth is estimated to be about $2 million.
6. (Tied) Kevin McKidd (Owen Hunt)
Salary: $83,000+
Kevin McKidd has appeared on Grey’s Anatomy since Season 5 in 2008 and has even directed a handful of episodes. His current salary per episode is unknown, but it’s likely north of $100,000 if you consider his tenure on the show. McKidd’s last reported salary was $83,000 per episode, per The Richest. His net worth is estimated to be around $14 million.
5. (Tied) Kate Walsh (Addison Montgomery)
Salary: $125,000 per episode
Kate Walsh made her Grey’s Anatomy debut in the Season 1 finale. She was eventually given her spin-off, Private Practice, from 2007 to 2013 before returning to the medical drama in 2018. Celebrity Net Worth reported that Walsh was paid $125,000 per episode at one point, but now her payout is likely much higher.
5. (Tied) Katherine Heigl (Izzie Stevens)
Salary: $125,000 per episode
Katherine Heigl suddenly left Grey’s Anatomy in Season 6. According to Entertainment Weekly, she earned as much as $125,000 per episode when she said farewell to her character, Izzie Stevens. In 2007, EW reported that Heigl and her representatives opted out of negotiations because the studio didn’t “value her as much as her costars.” Eventually, Heigl earned a bigger payday after she was offered a “substantial raise.”
5. (Tied) Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey)
Salary: $125,000 per episode
As one of the O.G. cast members of Grey’s Anatomy, Chandra Wilson is still going strong on the medical procedural. It was last reported that the actress was making at least $125,000 per episode, but we assume it’s much bigger than that figure, considering that she’s been on Grey’s for 20 seasons now. Her net worth is reportedly around $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
5. (Tied) James Pickens Jr. (Richard Webber)
Salary: $125,000 per episode
Like his co-star Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr. is still acting in the long-running medical drama after almost 20 years. He’s also estimated to be making more than $125,000 per episode of Grey’s Anatomy (the exact number is unknown). The 69-year-old actor’s net worth is slightly higher at $13 million.
4. Jesse Williams (Jackson Avery)
Salary: $260,000 per episode
Jesse Williams portrayed Jackson Avery from Season 6 to Season 19 of Grey’s Anatomy. According to The Daily Mail, the actor earned $260,000 per episode of the medical drama before his departure. In 2022, Williams was ordered to pay more than $50,000 a month in child support to his ex-wife and subsequently requested a reduction.
“I am requesting the Court reduce the child support to a reasonable amount I can afford given the significant reduction in my income and the now fluctuating nature of my income,” Williams stated in court documents obtained by E! News. “I appeared on the television show Grey’s Anatomy (“Grey’s”), which was the primary source of income for our family throughout the marriage and for me, post-separation. I am no longer on Grey’s. My last appearance was in May 2021.”
3. (Tied) Sandra Oh (Cristina Yang)
Salary: $350,000+ per episode
Sandra Oh starred on Grey’s Anatomy as Cristina Yang from Season 1 to Season 11. Although it’s unknown how much she made before her exit, TV Guide reported that Oh made $350,000 per episode in Season 9, which was in line with what Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo were making.
When asked by Vanity Fair in 2018 how her salary negotiations compared to Pompeo (who received a huge pay raise in 2018), she responded, “I don’t see it the same way, in my experience,” Oh said. “It’s too complicated, you know what I mean?” Celebrity Net Worth estimates Sandra Oh’s net worth to land at around $25 million.
3. (Tied) Justin Chambers (Alex Karev)
Salary: $350,000+ per episode
Justin Chambers played the charming Alex Karev from Season 1 until his departure in Season 15. Before he left the show, the on-screen doctor earned around $375,000 per episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Celebrity Net Worth reported that the actor made $9 million per season, contributing to his net worth of $18 million.
2. Patrick Dempsey (Derek Shepherd)
Salary: $400,000 per episode
Patrick Dempsey left Grey’s Anatomy in Season 11 when his character was killed off the show. The actor was raking in $400,000 per episode at the time of his departure, according to The Hollywood Reporter. His exit even allowed ABC to save nearly $10 million for one season, the site reported in 2015. Dempsey’s net worth sits at $85 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
1. Ellen Pompeo (Meredith Grey)
Salary: $575,000 per episode
Ellen Pompeo officially left Grey’s Anatomy in Season 19, but she’ll appear in at least four episodes of Season 20. Pompeo made $575,000 per episode during her peak as part of a new deal she signed in 2018, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In 2020, Forbes named Pompeo the 10th highest-paid television actress after making $22 million in 2019.
“I’m 48 now, so I’ve finally gotten to the place where I’m OK asking for what I deserve, which is something that comes only with age. Because I’m not the most ‘relevant’ actress out there,” she told THR. “I know that’s the industry perception because I’ve been this character for 14 years. But the truth is, anybody can be good on a show season one and two. Can you be good 14 years later? Now, that’s a f*ckin’ skill.”