Re:Orchestral musicians have unusually challenging jobs
by CrazyStat on Thursday March 24, 2022 @07:59AM
(#30788650)
At top-level orchestras this is true. For example, at the New York Philharmonic minimum pay was about $150k pre-pandemic, cut to $110k during the pandemic[1].
It is not true at less prestigious orchestras, where salaries are much lower. For example, the San Antonio Symphony tried to lower its base salary from just under $36k to just under $18k this past year[2], which resulted in a prolonged strike (still unresolved 6 months later).
There are many more less-prestigious orchestras than top-level orchestras, so most orchestral musicians don't get paid salaries comparable to other similarly high skilled professions.
Professional music is not unlike professional sports in this regard.
It is not true at less prestigious orchestras, where salaries are much lower. For example, the San Antonio Symphony tried to lower its base salary from just under $36k to just under $18k this past year[2], which resulted in a prolonged strike (still unresolved 6 months later).
There are many more less-prestigious orchestras than top-level orchestras, so most orchestral musicians don't get paid salaries comparable to other similarly high skilled professions.
Professional music is not unlike professional sports in this regard.
[1] https://nonprofitquarterly.org/new-york-philharmonic-players...
[2] https://www.sacurrent.com/sanantonio/san-antonio-symphony-mu...