The salaries of The Block cast have been published, revealing a marked disparity between the series’ highest and lowest earners, with host Scott Cam reportedly receiving $2.4 million a year.
According to figures cited by realestate.com.au and reported by multiple outlets, Cam, 62, is the programme’s top earner by a significant margin. Co-host Shelley Craft, 49, is listed as the second-highest-paid cast member, earning between $500,000 and $750,000 per series.
Other on-screen roles command substantially lower pay. Former foreman Keith Schleiger, who stepped back from the show last year, is reported to have earned between $250,000 and $300,000, while his successor Dan Reilly is listed at $150,000 to $200,000 per year. Judges Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer are reported to be paid between $60,000 and $100,000 per season.
Newcomer Marty Fox is said to receive about $3,000 per episode; with last year’s Phillip Island season comprising 52 episodes, that rate would equate to roughly $150,000 for the series. Contestants are the lowest-paid participants: teams are paid a stipend of about $100 per day during the 12-week filming period, which amounts to approximately $16,800 per two-person team. Reports stress that contestant payments are stipends to cover living costs rather than formal Channel Nine salaries, as contestants are not employees of the network.
The disclosures follow coverage placing Cam among Australia’s most highly paid television presenters. A TV industry list compiled by The Australian earlier this year ranked Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic as the country’s top-paid presenter and identified Cam as one of the highest earners across the major commercial networks.
Cam has co-hosted The Block since 2010. The long-running renovation reality series returned for its 21st season this year, with the latest instalment filmed in Daylesford. Network insiders quoted in lifestyle publications have said Channel Nine values the continuity of long-serving presenters, noting that retaining established hosts can be a strategic priority while audience engagement remains strong.
The pay breakdown highlights broader industry patterns in Australian television, where high-profile hosts often command significantly larger fees than regular panellists, crew or talent hired on a per-episode or stipend basis. Production roles tied to specialist skills or long-term contracts, such as foremen, typically attract mid-range fees, while short-term contributors and contestants receive comparatively modest sums.
Channel Nine has not publicly confirmed the specific figures reported for individual cast members. The figures in the public domain are drawn from a mix of industry reporting and outlet investigations rather than official wage disclosures.
Season 21’s ratings and commercial performance will influence future negotiations for on-screen talent. For now, the published numbers underscore the scale of earnings differences on one of Australia’s most enduring reality television franchises.