What Musicians and Singers
Earn Each Year

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You are quite the rock and roll artist or baby you can really sing the blues! Unfortunately, your parents take a dim view of your aspirations, believing that your talent can only lead you one way -- to poverty. Certainly, not every musician has what it takes to perform on American Idol, but talent like Maroon 5, Joe Louis Walker and Susan Tedeschi can make it big. For everyone else, the average salary of a musician and a singer is still well above the poverty rate.

Job Duties

As a musician or singer, your job is to play a musical instrument or lend your voice in a recital, in a music program or as part of an impromptu gig. You may work solo or be part of a band or an orchestra, or some other musical ensemble.

As a musical talent, you will be required to practice your art, by rehearsing by yourself or as part of your group. You will need to learn new numbers and may write original music as well. Performing before live audiences is how you make your living; you'll be expected to follow the instructions or guidance of your band leader, a chief conductor or music director.

Musicians and singers seeking to advance their skills will audition for a musical group including a band or an orchestra. You may play by memory or be required to follow sheet music. Especially talented artists may transpose music for the purposes of meeting a particular style. Many musicians are also engaged in public relations, granting media interviews, meeting with fans and otherwise advancing their cause.

Salary Range

The median pay for musicians and singers was $22.39 per hour as of 2010 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay scales vary with artists working for performing arts companies such as orchestras, earning $24.91 on average. Those employed in educational services, including public school music teachers, earn $19.78 per hour. The lowest wages are for those artists employed by religious, grant-making or other nonprofit organizations, earning $14.95 per hour. Across the board, annual wages range from about $30,000 to $50,000 per year.

The job outlook for musicians and singers is bright, with the BLS forecasting a 10 precent job increase from 2010 to 2020, about as fast of an increase for all occupations. The BLS notes that musicians will continue to be in demand in several areas including singing backup, and for recording commercials, television programs and movies.

Education

Musicians come from a variety of educational backgrounds. Government data reveals that about one-quarter have less than a high school diploma. About one-third have at least some college experience with 21 percent holding a bachelor's degree. Some choose to educate themselves through providers such as takelessons.

Some jobs, such as public school music teacher, require musicians and singers to have at least a bachelor's degree. Teach at a college and you will hold at least a masters degree.

Considerations

Your parents' concerns may be justified if you do not have a plan of where you want to take your musical talents or how you expect to earn money. You can alleviate their concerns if you are otherwise staying on the straight and narrow, avoiding the drinking, drugs and debauchery they may believe your kind of talent attracts. Sharing some information about how your favorite garage band evolved from Kara's Flowers into Maroon 5 can certainly help your cause. Then again, if you have Juilliard or Berklee talent and are avoiding a formal education, then your parents rightfully should be concerned -- your rock star or blues singer aspirations notwithstanding.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Musicians and Singers -- http://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/musicians-and-singers.htm

ONet OnLine: Summary Report for: 27-2042.02 - Musicians, Instrumental -- http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-2042.02

AllMusic.com: Kara's Flowers -- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/karas-flowers-mn0000855690

Justin Miller is a professional blogger that writes for Jamplay.com. JamPlay is a leading online music educator offering 2,000+ online lessons from guitar teachers in HD

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