You love to binge-watch the series that makes them their millions, but have you ever stopped to consider exactly how much your favourite TV actors actually get paid?

Forbes has released their comprehensive list of the highest paid television actors and actresses, with Modern Family’s Sophia Vergara coming out on top, earning the most out of any genre.

Unlike films, where male actors tend to bank more than actresses, television actually has a smaller wage gap.

The 10 highest-earning TV actresses banked a cumulative $168.5 million to the actors’ $181 million. Compare that with movies, where the 10 highest-paid film actresses together pocketed $186 million — just a quarter of the actors’ $748.5 million.

The smaller wage gap could have something to do with the fact that 43% of regular characters counted on broadcast prime-time television are women, compared to the shocking 31,8% of all speaking characters in film.

All earnings estimates are from June 1, 2017, through June 1, 2018. Figures are pretax; fees for agents, managers and lawyers are not deducted. Earnings estimates are based on data from Nielsen, Box Office Mojo and IMDB, as well as interviews with industry insiders.

Here they are – the 20 highest paid actors and actresses in television:

1. Sofia Vergara: $42,5 million – Primary Show: Modern Family

2. Jim Parsons: $26,5 million – Big Bang Theory

3. Johnny Galecki: $25 million – Big Bang Theory

4. Kaley Cuoco: $24,5 million – Big Bang Theory

5. (tie) Ellen Pompeo: $23,5 million – Grey’s Anatomy

5. (tie) Simon Helberg: $23,5 million – Big Bang Theory

5. (tie) Kunal Nayyar: $23,5 million – Big Bang Theory

8. Mark Harmon: $19 million – NCIS

9. Ed O’Neill: $14 million – Modern Family

10. Eric Stonestreet: $13,5 million – Modern Family

11. (tie) Jesse Tyler Ferguson: $13 million – Modern Family

11. (tie) Mariska Hargitay: $13 million – Law & Order: SVU

13. Julie Bowen: $12,5 million – Modern Family 

14. (tie) Mayim Bialik: $12 million – Big Bang Theory

14. (tie) Melissa Rauch: $12 million – Big Bang Theory

14. (tie) Ty Burrell: $12 million – Modern Family

17. (tie) Kerry Washington: $11 million – Scandal

17. (tie) Andrew Lincoln: $11 million – The Walking Dead

19. Claire Danes: $9 million – Homeland

20. Pauley Perrette: $8,5 million – NCIS

As you can see, The Big Bang Theory really cleans up, with almost the entire cast in the top 20. Modern Family is also representing.

While the top spot wouldn’t go amiss, I also wouldn’t say no to $8,5 million a year.

Must be nice.

[source:forbes]