What Is a Violinist's Salary?

Many violinists work as teachers to supplement their income.

Violinists are often associated with classical and orchestral music, but they may also perform in the genres of jazz, rock and even gospel. In addition, many find work helping to create movie soundtracks, as well as on Broadway in the orchestra for on-stage productions. Some violinists supplement their income as music teachers. According to Salarylist.com, the average yearly salary for a violinist is approximately $62,000. Violinists who work for larger city orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic earn six-figure salaries annually.

Recording Violinists

A significant number of violinists work in recording studios performing the string section for movie scores and popular and classical recordings. The string section makes up the largest section of orchestral music and and usually includes the violin, cello and double bass. According to the Recording Musicians Association of California -- the state in which most movie scores are recorded -- the rates are as follows: just over $200 apiece for a three-hour session with four or more musicians for television films and a little more than $250 each for the same session with 20-plus musicians for major motion pictures. These violinists may also work on other television programming such as soap-operas, game shows and variety shows. Rates for these programs range from $230 for a three-hour session (soap operas and daytime serials) to $500 for a three-hour session (variety show). Violinists participating as sidemen -- background musicians on a recording project -- are paid $380.02 for a three-hour session and $126.68 per half-hour of overtime.

Broadway Violinists

Many Broadway violinists are members of the Associated Musicians of Greater New York union. According to the organization's website, Broadway violinists earn $1,616 weekly as of 2011 once a play opens, not including pay for rehearsals or overtime if a play goes past midnight. Rates are set at $92.06 for each two-and-a-half hours of rehearsal time before a show opens. Violinists must be paid at a rate of $18.41 for each half-hour beyond 6:30 p.m. during the rehearsal period before a production opens. If the production of a play runs until after midnight, violinists are paid $24.89 for every 15-minute period following 12 a.m.

Salaries Across the Country

According to Salarylist.com, the average yearly salary for a violinist is $62,000. Orchestral groups and symphonies across the United States employ violinists with salaries ranging from six figures to slightly under $50,000 per year. For example, Salarylist.com lists two job postings for the New York Philharmonic paying $102,960 and $98,000. In comparison, the Thayer Symphony Orchestra in Massachusetts and the Knoxville Symphony Society in Tennessee posted violinist jobs paying $154,835 and $143,374, respectively.

Violin Teachers

Violinists may also find jobs as teachers. According to Simplyhired.com, the average yearly teaching salary for violinists is $49,000. In major cities such as New York, the average yearly salary for teachers is $57,000, compared to $54,000 in Chicago and Los Angeles. Violinists may teach during the day and perform at night, especially in major cities with symphony and orchestral groups such as the Boston Pops Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

References

• Salarylist.com: Violinist Jobs Salary, ranked by Salary, page 1
• Simplyhired.com: Average Violin Teachers Salaries
• Local 802 AFM: Broadway Theatre Orchestra Wage Scales
• Promusic47: Motion Picture and Television Film
• American Federation of Musician: Sound Recording Scales
• Salarylist.com: Violinist Jobs Salary, ranked by Salary, page 1