The Average Salary of a Professional Musician
Making money as a professional musician is notoriously difficult, since most jobs pay by the number of performances and sustained employment of three to six months is rare. For those willing to take the plunge, symphony and theatrical jobs offer full-time status and benefits. Musicians who play unoriginal material also fare well, averaging $1,000 to $10,000 per night--with the majority making a median annual wage of $21.24 per hour.
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Median Annual Wages
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Many factors influence musicians' salaries, including their status, types of venues played and terms of employment. As of May 2008, the median hourly wage for musicians and singers was $21.24, with the middle 50 percent earning between $11.49 and $36.36, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.64, while the highest earned $59.52 or more. Musicians in performing arts companies and religious organizations earned $23.68 and $12.50 per hour, respectively.
Cover Versus Original Bands
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Musicians who play "covers," or remakes of well-known songs, generally make more money than those focusing on original material. The most common are corporate and wedding bands, whose fees range from $1,000 to $10,000 per night, depending on their requirements. In contrast, original bands earn from $5 to $800 per night, based on how many people attend their show. This accounts for the wide disparity in their pay, with fixed guarantees more likely for established original bands.
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Symphony Orchestras
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Symphony musicians' annual salaries range from $22,000 to $130,000, depending on the city and level of support for their orchestra, according to the Musicians Wages website. Unlike most professional-level music jobs, orchestras pay full-time salaries and health insurance, making them potentially more attractive. These figures do not include pension contributions, which can add 8 to 12 percent over the base salary. Regional and community orchestras offer lower wages because of fewer performances and lower levels of support.
Theatrical Work
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Musical theater offers another potentially well-paying outlet. The most lucrative opportunities come from national tours of Broadway shows, which pay about $1,000 per week--plus health insurance, pension and per diems--for unionized musicians. Their nonunionized counterparts can expect $500 to $1,000 per week, according to Musicians Wages. Salaried music directors and composers earned median annual wages of $41,2270 in May 2008, according to the Bureau. The middle 50 percent made $26,840 to $63,200.
Touring Economics
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A musician's status goes a long way in determining how much he earns. The American Federation of Musicians is the critical bargaining agent for symphony and theatrical players, who count on its clout to improve their conditions. For nonunionized freelance musicians, local demand is helpful in convincing clients to pay lodging, overtime and mileage expenses. Musicians who book their own gigs make more money because they are not sharing their earnings with a booking agent or manager. On the other hand, joining an agency ensures steadier work.
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