California’s Talent Agency Act caps agent commissions at 10 % for union jobs - a rule deeply embedded in entertainment labor law. Non-union, endorsement, or influencer deals may allow higher percentages, but 10% remains the mental benchmark across Hollywood.

Media Services’ producer guide confirms the norm: "up to 10% for union jobs, up to 20% for non-union” and stresses that agents are paid only when the client is paid. This contingency model motivates agencies to secure well-compensated, steady work for their roster.

Backstage notes that even marquee stars seldom escape the ten-percenter - though they might negotiate commission caps on enormous backend bonuses. For agents, the commission’s predictability underwrites agency overhead and talent-scouting investments.

Some modern contracts add data-driven escalators: If a client’s demand multiple surpasses a set threshold (say, 25 × average in a G7 market), the commission steps to 12 %. Embedding such clauses with demand-curve evidence shows transparency and reward alignment.

Ultimately, the ten-percent commission is more than a percentage - it’s the economic heartbeat of talent representation, shaping agency budgets, hiring plans, and risk appetite.