The term ‘starving artist’ is still relevant today, and it especially applies to artists in the music industry.
Between finding gigs, working on their craft, and occasionally getting underpaid, the life of a professional musician isn’t an easy one.
But, there are many factors that can make this lifestyle worth it. Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about the typical musician’s salary.
What Is The Average Musician’s Salary?
While most musicians get paid based on performances or projects, the average hourly rate is nearly $28 per hour. But, top-level musicians can earn over $150,000 per year.
While the median pay is often enough to sustain a satisfying quality of life, musicians at the bottom end of the range earn only around $10 per hour.
Whether you’re paid hourly or by project, a resource like Paystubs.net can help you easily manage your finances.
Regardless of how much a musician makes, their income typically comes from multiple sources.
Let’s dive in.
Live Performances
For the majority of musicians, live performances often provide the highest income potential. This is especially true for those who go on extensive tours.
In addition to the money they receive for their performances, artists also gain plenty of notoriety that will lead to a potentially drastic increase in revenue in the future.
Merch
Musicians are their own brand, and people often want a way to represent that brand other than listening to their music.
Touring artists will often make the most from merch sales, but online stores can bring in plenty of revenue for artists with strong branding.
Recorded Music
Music streaming brings in only a small portion of the average musician’s income, so it often isn’t realistic to expect to make a living solely off of recorded music.
The larger the artist’s following becomes, though, the more streaming numbers begin to matter. In fact, the top 1% of artists earn nearly 80% of streaming income.
Studio Sessions
Musicians often pursue session work as a portion of their income.
This involves visiting a studio and recording themselves playing an instrument or singing so that another artist can use these recordings in their own project.
The most common scenario is hiring a musician to play the piano, drums, or guitar, but background vocals are also common scenarios.
Teaching
In between gigs, teaching is what many musicians view as their primary source of income. In general, the more musical talents that you’re able to teach, the more you’re able to make.
Even musicians who only teach one instrument, though, can still make enough to get by.
Sky’s The Limit
While a typical musician’s salary isn’t anything spectacular, being able to make money through your art can make the difficulties worth it.
And, there’s always the chance that you’ll make a major breakthrough in the industry.
