<P> By season twelve, both Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni had become among the highest - paid lead actors on a drama, with each earning nearly $400,000 per episode, a salary that TV Guide said was exceeded only by House's Hugh Laurie . During season sixteen, Hargitay was reported to be earning $450,000 per episode, or $13,000,000 per season, In season seventeen, her salary increased to $500,000 per episode . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Cast </Th> <Th> Character </Th> <Th> Rank / Position </Th> <Th_colspan="3"> Seasons </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Regular </Th> <Th> Recurring </Th> <Th> Guest </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Christopher Meloni </Td> <Td> Elliot Stabler </Td> <Td> Detective </Td> <Td> 1--12 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mariska Hargitay </Td> <Td> Olivia Benson </Td> <Td> Lieutenant </Td> <Td> 1--</Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Richard Belzer </Td> <Td> John Munch </Td> <Td> DA Investigator </Td> <Td> 1--15 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 15, 17 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dann Florek </Td> <Td> Donald Cragen </Td> <Td> Captain </Td> <Td> 1--15 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Michelle Hurd </Td> <Td> Monique Jeffries </Td> <Td> Detective </Td> <Td> 1--2 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Stephanie March </Td> <Td> Alexandra Cabot </Td> <Td> Assistant District Attorney </Td> <Td> 2--5, 11 </Td> <Td> 2, 10, 13 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ice - T </Td> <Td> Odafin "Fin" Tutuola </Td> <Td> Detective </Td> <Td> 2--</Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tamara Tunie </Td> <Td> Melinda Warner </Td> <Td> Medical Examiner </Td> <Td> 7--12 </Td> <Td> 2--6, 13--17 </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> B.D. Wong </Td> <Td> George Huang </Td> <Td> FBI Special Agent </Td> <Td> 4--12 </Td> <Td> 2--3 </Td> <Td> 13--15, 17 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Diane Neal </Td> <Td> Casey Novak </Td> <Td> Senior Assistant District Attorney </Td> <Td> 5--9 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Adam Beach </Td> <Td> Chester Lake </Td> <Td> Detective </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Michaela McManus </Td> <Td> Kim Greylek </Td> <Td> Assistant District Attorney </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Danny Pino </Td> <Td> Nick Amaro </Td> <Td> Detective </Td> <Td> 13--16 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kelli Giddish </Td> <Td> Amanda Rollins </Td> <Td> Detective </Td> <Td> 13--</Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Raúl Esparza </Td> <Td> Rafael Barba </Td> <Td> Assistant District Attorney </Td> <Td> 15--</Td> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Peter Scanavino </Td> <Td> Dominick Carisi Jr . </Td> <Td> Detective </Td> <Td> 16--</Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Cast </Th> <Th> Character </Th> <Th> Rank / Position </Th> <Th_colspan="3"> Seasons </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Regular </Th> <Th> Recurring </Th> <Th> Guest </Th> </Tr>

When does law & order special victims unit come back on