What is the income for the different musicians in a major symphony orchestra like Boston or Cleveland or LA?

Question

What is the income for the different musicians in a major symphony orchestra like Boston or Cleveland or LA?

Answer 1

when i plaid for a pretty big orchestra in LA, I was making about 70k a year, but i didn't work the whole season so it worked out to about 30k, and i was only 17 back then.  i knokw that the players in the LA phil can get anywhere from 100k to about a million

Answer 2

A friend of mine went to the BSO as principal in his section, and started at slightly over $90K - that was about 15 years ago.

Answer 3

Anywhere from 30K/yr to 60K and above, depending on where they sit.

Answer 4

Most of the BIG, full-time orchestras start their full-time players at or over six figures.  This is base - you make more from recording, extra concerts, etc.  Subs are paid per-service.  PRINCIPAL players are paid considerably more.  Needless to say, competition for these jobs is *insane* - many people keep their butt in that chair for 40 years or more!  And every year, we graduate more and more really fine players, with big dreams and a ton of preparation and talent - and they go to the END of the line.  If after getting a Masters degree form Juilliard, you are still auditioning all over, with no important job YET - then that tell everyone ELSE that this is a LONG ROW to hoe.