NBC’s singing reality competition television series The Voice is known for having one of the largest and most loyal audiences of any television show on the air today. Now in its 22nd season, the show has had more than a dozen notable celebrities grace its iconic red chairs as judges on the series.
Hailing from the worlds of pop, country, and R&B, these coaches have been mentors to hundreds of hopeful artists over the years. They are also some of the richest people in the country. So, exactly how much do The Voice coaches make?
The Voice Coaches’ Salary Overview
At the top of its game, The Voice has been able to convince a remarkable number of artists with esteemed careers to take jobs as judges on the show. As each judge is unique and specializes in different things, they earn different salaries for their appearances on the show.
The salary amounts take into consideration the coach’s personal fame, how many seasons they have appeared on the show, and how many times their chosen contestants have won the show. Published reports show that most of the judges for the program were paid about $13 million per season.
How Much Do The Voice Coaches Make?
Blake Shelton – Shelton is the only coach who has been on every season of The Voice, appearing in two seasons each year. Previous reports stated that Shelton’s deal with NBC is for $13 million per season, but with bonuses for his many wins and his long tenure on the show, his salary may be even higher now.
Adam Levine – Levine was another long-running coach in the singing competition, appearing in Seasons 1 through 16. It was reported that his deal was the same as Shelton’s to earn $13 million per season.
Christina Aguilera – Aguilera appeared in Seasons 1 through 3, and then returned for Seasons 5, 8, and 10. It was reported that she earned $17 million for Season 3, but took a pay cut to $12.5 million a season for her return appearances.
CeeLo Green – Green also appeared in Seasons 1 through 3, and then returned for Season 5. He reportedly made $2 million for his first season, but by the time he left the show, his paycheck had risen to $6.5 million a season.
Shakira – Shakira signed a deal for $12 million a season when she agreed to be a judge for Season 4. It is not known if she received a pay raise when she returned for season 6
Usher – Usher reportedly signed a deal for $7 million per season for his appearance on Season 4. It is believed he made the same amount when he returned for Season 6.
Gwen Stefani – Stefani made her first appearance as a coach in season 7 and returned for Seasons 9, 12, 17, 19, and 22. It was reported that she made $10 million for her first two seasons and received a raise for Season 12 that made her salary $13 million a season.
Pharrell Williams – Pharrell reportedly signed a deal for $8 million a season when he started as a coach in season 7 and is believed to have continued earning that amount for each season until he exited in Season 10.
Miley Cyrus – Cyrus was a coach for seasons 11 and 13 and made $13 million a season for both seasons.
Alicia Keys – Keys signed on as a coach in season 11 with a deal for $8 million a season. It is believed her pay stayed the same for her subsequent appearances in Seasons 12 and 14.
Jennifer Hudson – It is unknown what Hudson made for her work as a judge on Seasons 13 and 15, but it is believed that her salary was about $8 million per season.
Kelly Clarkson – Clarkson debuted as a coach in season 14 with a deal to receive $15 million per season. She won three seasons before her exit in Season 21, so her salary could have gone even higher for the later seasons.
John Legend – Legend signed on as a coach in season 16 with a deal reportedly worth $13 million per season and is still coaching contestants in the current season. It is believed that his salary has remained the same throughout his time on the show.
Nick Jonas – Jonas’ first season as a coach came in Season 18 and he returned in Season 20. It is believed that he earned $8 to $10 million for each season, but there’s little information about how much he was paid.
Ariana Grande – Grande is considered the highest-paid judge ever on the show, negotiating a $20 to $25 million contract for judging Season 21.
How much do you think The Voice coaches will make in 2025? Let us know in the comments below!
Toi Williams began her writing career in 2003 as a copywriter and editor and has authored hundreds of articles on numerous topics for a wide variety of companies. During her professional experience in the fields of Finance, Real Estate, and Law, she has obtained a broad understanding of these industries and brings this knowledge to her work as a writer.
