If you are passionate about playing a musical instrument, consider pursuing a career as an orchestra musician.
Orchestra musicians are professional performers who rehearse, perform, and sometimes record musical works with a large group of other orchestra members.
Orchestras comprise four main sections: brass, woodwinds, strings, and percussion. Each section contains further subdivisions, with players divided according to instrument.
Although the conductor guides the whole orchestra through performance, each instrument in each section has a section leader, also known as the first chair or the principal player.
First chairs have unique responsibilities and privileges, such as cuing in other players, indicating exits, playing solos, and making decisions like when the group should take breaths in the music.
All orchestra members—regardless of seat position—are tasked with working as a team to perform songs as elegantly and masterfully as possible. This requires close listening, the ability to adjust one’s own tempo to match that of the larger group, and a keen sense of how the individual musician’s part fits into the larger fabric of the ensemble and the melodies they play.
Breaking into the industry as a new orchestra musician may seem daunting, and it certainly is not the easiest career to pursue.
That said, the career of becoming an orchestral musician can be satisfying with hard work, time, and perseverance.
We have compiled some of the most essential information about working as an orchestral musician for those interested in learning more.
Read on to find out the average annual salary for different orchestra members, how to get started in this field, and so much more.
Salary – How Much Do Orchestra Musicians Make?
Orchestra musicians might earn a wide range of salaries, depending on the organization with whom they work and several other factors.
For example, the Chicago Symphony — one of the best orchestras in the world and the very best in the United States — pays a lot more than most other orchestras.
When Ricardo Muti was the director of the Chicago Symphony, for example, he was the world’s highest-paid conductor, with an annual salary of over $3.4 million.
The annual base salary for Chicago Symphony musicians is an impressive $181,272.
For members of the Vienna Philharmonic — often named the best orchestra in the world — annual base salary starts at just under $150,000, with the group’s more experienced musicians generally making more than newer members.
Members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic — the most important orchestra in the country, according to NPR — make an average annual salary of $164,736
Seating position is one consideration that may influence how much orchestra musicians are paid. First-chair musicians generally earn higher salaries than lower-chair musicians since it is assumed that the first seats are filled by the group’s most experienced and talented members.
To give an example, the starting salary for members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2020 was $120,000; their concertmaster and principal violinist, however, are paid more than three times that at $415,402 a year.
Principal players make over $250,000 — more than double the group’s base salary.
Each orchestra is unique, and the power dynamics within the group may mean that some sections are expected to take charge of more responsibilities than others.
Remember that these numbers are relevant for the world’s top orchestras. Many community orchestras and part-time orchestras will pay significantly less than these numbers.
What Is the Career Pathway to Become an Orchestral Musician?
There are many different paths you can take to become an orchestral musician.
One common starting point for aspiring professional orchestra musicians is to go to college for music.
Earning a bachelor’s degree in music is a great way to get your foot in the door and develop the skills and knowledge your desired career will require.
However, graduate school is generally the best way to maximize one’s chances of succeeding in this field.
Whether that means you should get a master’s degree or pursue a doctorate degree depends on your particular professional aspirations and personal preferences.
Not having a doctorate may impact your hirability and likelihood of making it as an orchestral musician; it also may be totally inessential for your dream job.
One way or another, the most crucial thing is that you can study under an amazing professor during your music education.
In addition to all the perks of learning from an accomplished, experienced professional musician, great music professors can provide invaluable mentorship, career guidance, and networking connections that will prove quite advantageous.
It is also wise to start auditioning for as many orchestras as possible as soon as possible. It never hurts to shoot your shot, and having some experience with the audition process under your belt is ideal for better preparing for future auditions.
In general, most orchestra musicians begin by working for smaller local or regional orchestras. Once they have acquired sufficient experience, they start auditioning for more widely respected, higher-paying groups, which tend to be located in larger cities.
From there, the process repeats: seek more accomplished orchestras, audition, and — if accepted — glean as much as they can from the experience until it is time to move on to the next ensemble.
Pit Orchestra – Salary and Overview
Pit orchestras are orchestral groups that accompany other performances, as opposed to the musical ensemble being the main focus of an event. Ballets, opera houses, and silent films are a few examples of shows that may require a pit orchestra.
Musical theatre is one of the most significant sources of demand for pit orchestras, as many theatrical productions require pit musicians.
In fact, there are many pit orchestra musicians who have thriving, successful careers on Broadway, whether it’s a full-time job or just a part-time gig to supplement income.
According to some sites, pit orchestra musicians on Broadway can earn around $1,220 a week, equating to over $60,000 in a year, if the musician plays eight shows weekly. It is common for pit orchestra members to be paid per performance instead of a yearly salary.
The amount they are paid per production varies depending on several factors, such as the budget for the production or the duration of the show.
Some shows pay pit musicians as little as $50, while others might offer as much as $150 per performance.
The median annual salary for pit orchestra members is estimated to be just over $47,000, or roughly $900 per week.
Should You Pursue a Career As an Orchestral Musician?
If you are a serious and talented musician, pursuing a career as a professional orchestra member could be a stellar path.
It should be noted, however, that although the work can be gratifying for those who are genuinely passionate about playing their instrument, becoming an orchestral musician is undoubtedly not the easiest thing to do.
For one, being an orchestral musician requires much time and practice. Citing the high volume of competition at most auditions as one major reason, many professional musicians warn that it is difficult to get hired by any symphony — let alone a prestigious one.
Outstanding musical ability is essential for this job.
Although many thriving orchestral musicians did not have significant classical training before being hired, not having a graduate degree in music can make the job search process more complicated than it is for those with master’s or doctorate degrees.
One of the most important questions to ask yourself if you’re considering pursuing this career is this: are you truly willing to not only work hard to improve your music skills in your free time but also to do a large number of auditions for various orchestras — all while knowing that your chances of acceptance are statistically slim from the get-go?
It is also essential to be aware that the average annual salary for the vast majority of new orchestra members is relatively modest.
Additionally, since major orchestras tend to be concentrated in urban areas, it would be wise to move to the city to make it in this field.
If you are not daunted by the potentially lengthy process of getting hired, the thought of going to graduate school, and the potential need to move to a city, you may have what it takes to become an orchestral musician.
