Musicians

It is difficult to estimate the earnings of the average musician, because what a musician earns is dependent on his or her skill, reputation, geographic location, type of music, and number of engagements per year.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, median earnings of musicians and singers were $39.14 per hour ($81,411 annually) in May 2023. The lowest paid 10 percent earned $16.02 per hour ($33,327 annually) or less, while the highest paid 10 percent earned $102.98 per hour ($214,198 annually) or more. Musicians who worked for performing arts companies had mean hourly wages of $53.43, or $111,134 annually; and musicians who worked for religious organizations earned approximately $58.92 per hour, or $122,553 per year. It's important to note that most musicians do not work a typical 40-hour week.

Popular musicians are usually paid per concert or gig. A band just starting out playing a small bar or club may be required to play three sets a night, and each musician may receive next to nothing for the entire evening. Often, bands receive a percentage of the cover charge at the door. Some musicians play for drinks alone. On average, however, pay per musician ranges from $30 to $300 or more per night. Bands that have gained recognition and a following may earn far more, because a club owner can usually be assured that many people will come to see the band play. The most successful popular musicians, of course, can earn tens of millions of dollars each year. Today, top artists sign recording contracts worth $100 million or more.

Musicians are well paid for studio recording work, when they can get it. According to the American Federation of Musicians' payscale for May 1, 2022 through April 30, 2023, groups with five or more musicians received a flat rate of $286.68/member (under Schedule A) for three-hour sessions. Other rates exist for musicians who are classified under different categories, including theatrical and television. The federation also provides pay scales that cover overtime, longer recording sessions, holidays, weekends, and overnight hours.

The salaries received by music teachers in public elementary and secondary schools are the same as for other teachers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, public elementary and high school teachers had mean yearly earnings of $70,740 and $73,570, respectively, in May 2023. Music teachers in colleges and universities received salaries that ranged from less than $47,570 to $178,670 or more. Most teachers supplement their incomes through private instruction and by performing in their off hours.

Most musicians do not, as a rule, work steadily for one employer, and they often undergo long periods of unemployment between engagements. Because of these factors, few musicians can qualify for unemployment compensation. Unlike other workers, most musicians also do not enjoy such benefits as sick leave or paid vacations. Some musicians, on the other hand, who work under contractual agreements, do receive benefits, which usually have been negotiated by artists unions such as the American Federation of Musicians.