Being part of “Saturday Night Live” is a significant milestone for many comedians, but the financial rewards might not be as great as expected.

Pete Davidson, a former cast member who has leveraged his popularity into stand-up specials and film roles, shared that he earned $3,000 for each episode when he first joined the show, in a video for New York Magazine.

“Do you guys know what they pay us? It’s about three grand an episode,” he humorously said when asked about his first splurge after getting paid. “I think I treated myself to dinner.”

This clip is part of a broader series released by the magazine in honor of the sketch-comedy series’ 50th anniversary. Since it began airing in 1975, the show has acted as a starting point for some of the most renowned comedians of the 21st century, including Steve Martin, Kate McKinnon, and Eddie Murphy.

Former stars like Julia Louis Dreyfus and Seth Meyers mentioned buying furniture or shoes as their first significant expenses, while “Wicked” actor Bowen Yang opted for a more extravagant choice: Gucci shoes.

Jason Sudeikis, who was part of “SNL” from 2003 to 2013, first as a writer and then as an actor, echoed Davidson’s remarks.

“Honestly, you don’t earn enough to make expensive purchases. I think my biggest expense after my first season on ‘SNL’ was my rent in New York,” explained the star of “Ted Lasso” in the video.

The show is filmed live at Rockefeller Center in New York City, known for its high rental prices.

Although the full details of salaries at “SNL” are not publicly disclosed, numerous cast members use the break between seasons to explore other opportunities.

During his time on “SNL,” Davidson acted in “The King of Staten Island” and recorded the comedy special “Pete Davidson: Alive from New York” for Netflix.