By Debbie Emery - Breaking Celebrity News Reporter

He’s no Charlie Sheen, in many ways!

Despite ratings hitting a season low in March, Ashton Kutcher has locked in a new deal with the producers of Two And A Half Men to return for a second season on the show, but his salary is a far cry from the $1 million an episode he was rumored to be seeking.

Demi Moore’s ex signed a one-year contract with the CBS sitcom and will be paid slightly more than the $700,000 to $725,000 per episode (or about $15 million to $16 million) he is widely thought to be making this season, reported The Hollywood Reporter.

While it’s nothing to balk at, Kutcher’s paycheck is still a drop in the ocean compared to his predecessor’s record-breaking $1.25 million per episode salary that with backend profits was estimated to be closer to $2-and-a-half million.

After taking over Sheen’s spot for the 10th season of Two And A Half Men following his infamous meltdown last year, Kutcher was being hailed as the future of the show and was expected to sign at least a two-year contract this time around, but sources told the Reporter that all the stars and their reps balked at the commitment.