How much do Oscars hosts get paid? Here’s what previous hosts have shared

WASHINGTON — Conan O’Brien is preparing to take the stage Sunday to host the 98th Annual Academy Awards for the second time. The 2026 Academy Awards, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, will bring to a close another whirlwind Oscar race.

The late-night talk show host and comedian hosted the 2025 show. Less than a month later, executives announced that he would be back for the next edition. The timing of the announcement was unusually early for the film academy and ABC.

While the salary for an Oscar host isn’t typically disclosed and varies depending on who takes the gig, previous hosts have hinted at what the paycheck entails. In 2022, Wanda Sykes and Jimmy Kimmel chatted about their Oscars pay in an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live. 

Sykes, who co-hosted the 2022 Oscars with Amy Schumer and Regina Hall, shared that she didn’t know how much she was being paid but assumed it was at least the “scale” rate, a minimum set by the SAG-AFTRA union. 

Kimmel revealed he was paid $15,000 for hosting the Oscars, which he described as being less than the scale rate. Despite the modest pay, the job involves significant preparation and is more than just a one-night commitment, the two explained.

“I got paid $15,000 to host the Oscars. And there’s one of me! You guys will probably have to split that,” Kimmel replied to Sykes. “Which sounds like a lot for one night but it’s months of work leading up to it.” 

Conan O’Brien’s salary for Sunday’s Oscars remains undisclosed, however, the hosting gig offers significant exposure and is a major career milestone for any host. 

The 2026 Academy Awards will air on ABC and will also be available to stream live on Hulu on Sunday, March 14, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.