Burnett, 82, is best known for her eponymous comedy TV show which ran from 1967 to 1978 on CBS, reported BBC online.
The guild's head Ken Howard described the comic and actor as a "creative dynamo and a comedic genius".
Burnett, who has won multiple Emmys and Golden Globes, also played Miss Hannigan in the 1982 film "Annie".
Howard went on to add that she "embodies the generosity and courage that the greatest actors use in creating enduring and memorable characters".
Her six-decade career saw her debut on Broadway in 1959's "Once Upon a Mattress", and in recent years she has appeared in TV shows including "Glee" and "Hot in Cleveland".