Yeah, the bosses aren't that generous in the porn industry either

And you thought GateHouse screwed their workers?

Jenna Jameson

No one makes a fortune in porn. Despite the misleading publicity surrounding Jenna Jameson and Teen Mom’s Farrah Abraham, the hundreds of girls who enter the industry every year may never see six figures. Your favorite porn star might be doing it for a lot less than you think.

How much an adult star makes is something of a secret not just outside the industry, but within it as well. Few girls will admit to doing a sex scene for $500, but it happens. Performers and production companies have been raking in significantly less dough since the rise of Internet porn. Piracy means less money for the industry. That means tougher negotiations all around.

People are often surprised to hear that a famous porn star may perform a sex scene, headline a film, and even get on the box cover, all for one flat rate with no residuals. Usually, a female charges $800 to $1,000 for a boy/girl scene, $900 to $1,200 for “backdoor” action, and an additional $100 for each added scene partner. Rates for a girl/girl scene are significantly lower, averaging from $600 to $900. Rates dip even lower yet if it’s an oral-only scene, starting at $250.

Men charge $200 to $600 (almost half that of their female counterparts), though men are hired more frequently. Some male performers have been known to show up for $100. Others provide their equipment for an oral scene for just $50. The cream of the crop usually garners a few hundred more than your average person. Out of the hundreds in the business, only a handful work regularly. Most struggle to work more than a few times a month, which in turn creates a bargaining tool for companies to hire talent at lower rates.