What Is Jenna Fischer's Net Worth and Salary?
Jenna Fischer is an American actress and author who has a net worth of $12 million. Jenna Fischer is best known for her role as Pam Beesley on the NBC sitcom "The Office." She and her "The Office" co-star Angela Kinsey also host an extremely popular podcast called "Office Ladies," which has won numerous major awards and has received overwhelmingly positive reviews. Away from "The Office," Jenna has starred in films such as "Slither" (2006), "Blades of Glory" (2007), "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" (2007), "Solitary Man" (2009), "Hall Pass" (2011), "The Giant Mechanical Man" (2012), and "Mean Girls" (2024) as well as the television series "You, Me and the Apocalypse" and "Splitting Up Together." Fischer released the book "The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide" in 2017, and she and Kinsey co-wrote the 2022 book "The Office BFFs: Tales of 'The Office' from Two Best Friends Who Were There."
(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)
Early Life
Jenna Fischer was born Regina Marie Fischer on March 17, 1974, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her mother was a history teacher, and her father was an engineer. She has one younger sister, and the two were raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Growing up, her mother acted in local plays, and Fischer would often help her rehearse lines. When Jenna was 6 years old, she took an acting workshop taught by her mother. One of her classmates was Sean Gunn, who would later become her brother-in-law.
Originally, Fischer had her sights set on becoming a professional dancer, but after accepting that she lacked the natural talent, she decided to go to Truman State University to study pre-law. She had a change of heart and graduated with a degree in journalism and a minor in theater arts. At Truman State, Fischer performed with a touring murder mystery dinner theatre group.
Early Career
After graduating in 1998, Jenna moved to LA to pursue acting but spent her first few years doing temp work and occasionally getting minor acting gigs. Her first acting job in LA was for a sex education video for mental patients after their release from the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Another early job was as a singer in the International Spice Girls, which ended up not being a legit group. After the producer told her she got the part, he invited her over to his apartment, where she was surprised to see a large number of scantily clad women. The group was a front for a call girl service, which took Fischer a few weeks to figure out. While helping her friend with a small theatrical production, she met her current manager, who thought she had a future in television comedy and signed a contract with her. Shortly after, her performance in a small theatrical rendition of the silent German film "Nosferatu" caught a talent scout's eye, and she signed a contract with her first agent.
Career
It wasn't until three years after signing with an agent that Jenna landed her first television speaking role on the show "Spin City." While her role was minor, it proved to be a stepping stone to Fischer becoming a household name. Prior to gaining widespread fame through "The Office," she took minor roles in a few major films and guest roles on several television shows. Struggling to make a name for herself, she decided to write, direct, and star in the mockumentary "Lollilove," which is about an LA couple who tries to help the homeless by giving them lollipops with positive messages on the wrappers. She starred in the film with her soon-to-be husband, James Gunn, and much of the filming took place in their home. For her appearance in the 2004 film, she earned a Screen Actors Guild Emerging Actor Award.
"The Office"
Later that year, the casting director for "Sin City" invited Fischer to audition for a part in "The Office" and told her to show up looking plain with no makeup. She and other prospective cast members went through several rounds of auditions with each other to gauge chemistry. During this process, Fischer told John Krasinski that she hoped he got the part because he was her favorite potential Jim. He felt similarly about her and both landed their respective roles.
Although viewership was not bad, the first season received mixed reviews among critics. The second season, however, was widely watched and critically acclaimed. The NBC show became a hit, and her portrayal as downtrodden secretary Pam was much loved by fans. Fischer herself expressed that she loved the role and had always dreamed of being a star on a hit TV show. The second season won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series and was nominated for four others. Jenna remained in the cast for the duration of the show, which ran from 2004 to 2013.
Salary
Jenna appeared in 188 episodes as a main cast member between 2004 and 2013. In the early seasons, she earned a salary per episode of $20,000, roughly $500,000 per season. By 2007, NBC boosted her pay to $100,000. By the end of the series, she was earning $150,00 per episode, roughly $4 million per season.
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"Office Ladies" Podcast
In October 2019, Jenna Fischer launched "The Office" rewatch podcast "Office Ladies" with her former castmate Angela Kinsey. They have produced over 200 episodes, and the podcast has become extremely popular, with a 4.8 rating after nearly 80,000 ratings on iTunes alone. In each episode, Jenna, Angela, and, periodically, guests deconstruct each episode of "The Office." In 2021, the show won the iHeartRadio Podcast of the Year award.
Films and Other Work
Outside of "The Office," Fischer starred in supporting roles for a number of feature films, including, "Slither," "Blades of Glory," "The Brothers Solomon," "Hall Pass," "The Promotion," and "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story." She appeared on Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown" in 2006, and she played left field for the National League team in the annual All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game in 2009. Also in 2009, Jenna was named a spokeswoman for Proactive Skincare Solutions. Fischer was a producer of the critically acclaimed 2010 play "Sad Happy Sucker." It was written by her husband, Lee Kirk, and directed by childhood friend Sean Gunn. In 2024, Jenna played Ms. Heron in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical "Mean Girls" (which was based on the 2004 film of the same name).
Personal life
Fischer's first marriage was to director James Gunn. The two met through James' brother Sean during her early years in LA while James was working as a screenwriter. They married in 2000 and divorced amicably in 2008.
In 2009, Jenna married screenwriter Lee Kirk. The couple welcomed a son in 2011 and a daughter in 2014. Fischer's first pregnancy coincided with Pam's second pregnancy on "The Office." Jenna is passionate about animal rights and volunteered with an LA animal rescue prior to her acting career. She continues to provide a foster home to rescue dogs and cats in need.
Real Estate
In 2002, Jenna and James Gunn paid $875,000 for a home in Studio City, California. James received this home in the divorce. He sold it in 2017 for $1.875 million.
In 2009, Fischer paid $1.83 million for a home in Studio City, California. She sold this home in October 2013 for $2 million.
In 2012 Jenna and Lee Kirk paid $1.9 million for a home in Glendale, California. The seller was Hall of Fame baseball player Casey Stengel. Today this home is worth $3-4 million.
