How Much the Cast Was Paid for Season 5 of Stranger Things
By the time production began on Season 5, Stranger Things was no longer simply a successful show. It had become one of Netflix’s defining franchises. That evolution showed up clearly in the cast’s contracts, especially when you compare what they earned in the early seasons to their final-season pay. Here’s a clear look at how much the main cast was paid for Season 5 and how those numbers reflect the show’s rise.
Millie Bobby Brown – Undisclosed
Credit: IMDb
By Season 5, Millie Bobby Brown was no longer negotiating as part of an ensemble. Her deal reportedly sat outside the standard cast structure entirely, bundled with other Netflix projects, including the Enola Holmes franchise. While per-episode figures were never confirmed, industry estimates consistently place her total compensation in the eight-figure range.
Winona Ryder – Approximately $9 million
Credit: IMDb
Winona Ryder’s Season 5 salary remained surprisingly consistent. Earning about $1.2 million per episode across eight episodes, her deal kept her firmly at the top of the pay scale. Netflix treated her as a legacy anchor from the beginning, and her compensation remained steady as the show evolved.
David Harbour – Approximately $9 million
Credit: IMDb
David Harbour’s paycheck grew alongside Hopper’s importance to the series. He began Stranger Things at a far more modest rate, but as the character became central to the story, his leverage increased with each season. By Season 5, Harbour was reportedly earning about $1.2 million per episode, placing him on equal footing with Winona Ryder and reflecting just how essential Hopper had become to the show.
Finn Wolfhard – Approximately $7 million
Credit: IMDb
The contrast between starting pay and final-season earnings is especially sharp here. Finn Wolfhard reportedly began the series with a salary of around $20,000 per episode. For Season 5, that figure jumped to around $875,000 per episode. Despite a growing film résumé, the series remained his largest single acting contract to date.
Gaten Matarazzo – Approximately $7 million
Credit: IMDb
As one of the original four kids introduced in Season 1, Gaten Matarazzo appeared consistently throughout the entire series. For Season 5, industry reports estimate he earned about $875,000 per episode, coming up to roughly $7 million. His compensation reflected years of screen time and audience familiarity rather than leverage from major film roles.
Sadie Sink – Approximately $7 million
Credit: IMDb
Joining in Season 2 meant starting under a different contract structure than the original kids. That distinction disappeared before the final season. Ahead of Season 5, Sadie Sink’s pay was reportedly adjusted to the same per-episode rate as the rest of the younger leads, landing near $875,000 for each episode filmed.
Caleb McLaughlin – Approximately $7 million
Credit: IMDb
Lucas Sinclair has been part of the story since the series began, and Season 5 negotiations reflected that tenure. Industry reports place Caleb McLaughlin’s per-episode pay near $875,000 for the final season. The increase mirrored the broader contract reset for the original younger cast rather than a role-specific renegotiation.
Joe Keery – Approximately $6 million
Credit: IMDb
This contract reflects a role that outgrew its initial plan as Steve Harrington’s screen time and narrative importance increased steadily after Season 1, and Joe Keery’s pay followed that trajectory. Industry estimates put his final-season rate near $750,000 per episode, which was a clear jump from earlier supporting-status compensation.
Natalia Dyer – Approximately $6 million
Credit: IMDb
Five seasons of uninterrupted screen time shaped this deal more than any single storyline. As Nancy Wheeler evolved from a supporting role into a consistent lead, Natalia Dyer’s Season 5 salary reportedly reached about $750,000 per episode. The figure reflected long-term narrative importance rather than late-stage renegotiation driven by popularity spikes.
Noah Schnapp – Approximately $7 million
Credit: IMDb
Will Byers’ arc took time to re-center, but later seasons shifted the balance. Industry reports place his per-episode compensation around $875,000 for the final run, because when contracts were revisited ahead of Season 5, Noah Schnapp’s pay moved into the same bracket as the other original kids.