How much money do you make when you play in a professional orchestra?

Question

Or is it a free hobby thing??

like the bbc philharmonic or like sydney orchestra or do they usually have to get other jobs aswell as that??

please help :(

tah x

Answer 1

i think it's a recreational thing :)

Answer 2

As other posters have already pointed out, there is a wide range of salaries associated with playing in orchestras. The very top orchestras like Berlin Phil, NY Phil, LA Phil, etc. pay very very well. And it is next to impossible to get in. "2nd-tier" orchestras and below that pay much less, say 20K up to 60K and perhaps more for principal spots. Then, there are the "full time" orchestras like Tucson Symphony, New Mexico Symphony, etc. that pay in the 15K to 45K range. Again, some positions may pay more.

Amazingly, getting in to these 2nd- and 3rd-tier orchestras can be very competitive. I recently saw a friend of mine who had just come back from an audition for a section viola chair in the Indianapolis Symphony. He told me that there was over 100 people auditioning! Incredible.

There are of course orchestras that are volunteer "community" orchestras that can be quite good.  

Answer 3

When you say "professional" orchestra, that implies that they get paid.  The pay varies.  Orchestras are rated according to their budgets.  The pay could be anywhere from 90K/year for a section leader in (say) the Chicago Symphony, to $300/month for a student seat in the second violin section of a small community-based orchestra associated with a university.  

Answer 4

They do make money, I'm not sure how much.

I also know most orchestras have medical coverage too.

Which is a rare thing for musicians.

I'm guessing the more well-known the orchestra is, the more money you make : ]

Answer 5

There was an article on that in the Los Angeles Times within the last couple of weeks. Your library might have a copy if you can't find it online. It said most musicians at least did teaching on the side.

Answer 6

The second oboeist in the CBSO (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra) earns about £35,000 UK pounds from her full time job playing with this orchestra.

Answer 7

The BIG TEN - you can guess those - make EASILY over $100,000 a year - plus all the other jobs that come their way - and not counting recording, etc.  Principal players make more. Small-venue, local orchestras are per-service, and short season - you could make from a few thousand to almost a decent job - but not quite.  

Clearly, the competition to get into a BIG TEN orchestra is insane.  Also, search previously-answered questions on this topic - this goes around every few weeks. Maybe you just joined?

Answer 8

35,000 - 40,000 IF YOU'RE A TRAVELING ORCHESTRA.