Topic: WHATS YOUR CITY'S BASE PAY LOOKING LIKE NOW-A-DAYS? (Read 5605 times)

TheReturn · « **on:** January 20, 2009, 03:57:34 AM »

HEY WHATS UP LGM FAM!!!

ITS BEEN A WHILE FOR ME!

I HAVE A QUESTION! I'M THINKING ABOUT MAKING SOME MOVES FROM ST. LOUIS! WHAT IS A ORGANIST BASE/NORMAL PAY LIKE IN YOUR CITY?

I'LL START IT OFF!
HERE IN ST. LOUIS A NORMAL PAY RATE PER WEEK IS ABOUT 150-400!

WHATS YOUR CITY TALKING ABOUT FAM.

HOLLA
CATRON/TheReturn

docjohn · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2009, 05:56:57 AM »

don't know! here in Atl-i have never had a church offer anything-isn't that sad?yet they preach Luke 6:38 like crazy-EXCEPT the part that it's a 2 way street!!!!!and they wonder why THEIR wallets are ALWAYS empty!!!!!!! I did see a "minister" in south atl offering $150 for keys IF you bring your own gear,couple responses indicate this may NOT be a creditable preacher!!!!!! go figure

under13 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2009, 07:09:35 AM »

I'm in NY, and I'm an intermediete organist, I get $100 a week. The average attendance is about 100 people.

I think most cats get ariund 300 at larger churches. If you are a MOM or at a mega church you may get more than 500 weekly

OUSkeeter90 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2009, 02:23:29 PM »

hello fam...
repping Houston:
beginning musician $150-250/wk
intermediate $300-500/wk
advanced $600-900/wk on avg with some making much more

Hope this helps....be blessed
Skeeter

under13 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 20, 2009, 06:34:26 PM »

I need to move to Houston

Quote from: TheReturn on January 20, 2009, 03:57:34 AM

I HAVE A QUESTION! I'M THINKING ABOUT MAKING SOME MOVES FROM ST. LOUIS! WHAT IS A ORGANIST BASE/NORMAL PAY LIKE IN YOUR CITY?

I'LL START IT OFF!
HERE IN ST. LOUIS A NORMAL PAY RATE PER WEEK IS ABOUT 150-400!

WHATS YOUR CITY TALKING ABOUT FAM.

HOLLA
CATRON/TheReturn

You can make a bit of money considering your skill level. You can always play for two churches on sunday, a seventh day adventist church on saturday, and do funerals, weddings and teach lessons during the week. Can you sing and teach choir parts? how is your reading? If you can do those two things well, you are worth a lot more. I know a musician in NY who made over 100,000 a year just playing the organ and teaching private lessons and stuff.

themidiroom · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2009, 09:19:03 AM »

I think it mostly has to do with the size of the church and what they can afford. There are some well paid musicians in St. Louis but they play for large churches. There are always pros and cons to everything however.

Metronome · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2009, 09:44:59 AM »

Man.............I WISH it was like this in Syracuse...lol smh.....Its so bad where I dont even know what the average rate is. Churches JUST started goin hard with the paying musicians thing within like the past 3 years, so everybody who plays (i.e. ME!!!!) doesnt get paid....even some sweet cats dont get what they deserve.

jonesl78 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 21, 2009, 11:45:27 AM »

Quote from: themidiroom on January 21, 2009, 09:19:03 AM

I think it mostly has to do with the size of the church and what they can afford. There are some well paid musicians in St. Louis but they play for large churches. There are always pros and cons to everything however.

Even though there are exceptions, I think the size and the amount of responsibilities is what it boils down to. A church with a small budget will more than likely try to find a musician that accepts a lower than market rate salary regardless of their talent. Anyway, to answer the question, here in DC I believe the average rate is about $300 for a "musician."

organman88 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2009, 12:14:10 PM »

Quote from: Metronome on January 21, 2009, 09:44:59 AM

Man.............I WISH it was like this in Syracuse...lol smh.....Its so bad where I dont even know what the average rate is. Churches JUST started goin hard with the paying musicians thing within like the past 3 years, so everybody who plays (i.e. ME!!!!) doesnt get paid....even some sweet cats dont get what they deserve.

Gots to agree with my boy lol, man its ridulous here i get 175 before tax is taken out :'(147 after and my church is one of the biggest in the city the music dept. is not a big priority in Syracuse well i should say it is but the church only want to commit one way but i think the average pay per week is like 125 and week if that seriously

themidiroom · « **Reply #9 on:** January 21, 2009, 12:50:50 PM »

Quote from: organman88 on January 21, 2009, 12:14:10 PM

Gots to agree with my boy lol, man its ridulous here i get 175 before tax is taken out

WOW! Your church takes taxes out of your pay?

under13 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 21, 2009, 01:05:26 PM »

Quote from: themidiroom on January 21, 2009, 12:50:50 PM

WOW! Your church takes taxes out of your pay?

Your's doesent either? Do they send a 1040 or whatever? This is my first year getting paid more than $600 a year from a church, so I dont know how that works. I guess they consider me an independent contracter

.

Quote from: jonesl78 on January 21, 2009, 11:45:27 AM

Even though there are exceptions, I think the size and the amount of responsibilities is what it boils down to. A church with a small budget will more than likely try to find a musician that accepts a lower than market rate salary regardless of their talent.

Yeah thats true, if it wasnt for me, our C3 would be sitting there not being played. They said everbody demands too much money and thats probaly why our Bass player left.

pressingon3 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 21, 2009, 01:07:24 PM »

Quote from: themidiroom on January 21, 2009, 12:50:50 PM

WOW! Your church takes taxes out of your pay?

The church where I serve as the church musician takes out taxes as well. I still end up with a descent salary based upon what some of you guys are saying about your pay in other cities. I was sad ,but it seems as if it is not that bad afterall.

Fenix · « **Reply #12 on:** January 21, 2009, 01:08:05 PM »

Quote from: themidiroom on January 21, 2009, 12:50:50 PM

WOW! Your church takes taxes out of your pay?

The church has to account for every cent it makes and the musician will be classified a church worker for tax purposes.

Quote from: Metronome on January 21, 2009, 09:44:59 AM

Man.............I WISH it was like this in Syracuse...lol smh.....Its so bad where I dont even know what the average rate is. Churches JUST started goin hard with the paying musicians thing within like the past 3 years, so everybody who plays (i.e. ME!!!!) doesnt get paid....even some sweet cats dont get what they deserve.

I don't get paid either. No one so much as mentioned pay to me. $:-\$

themidiroom · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2009, 02:09:14 PM »

Quote from: under13 on January 21, 2009, 01:05:26 PM

Your's doesent either? Do they send a 1040 or whatever?

I can't speak on how the church handles their books but they don't take takes out of my pay. I don't get a 1099 either.

under13 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2009, 02:31:10 PM »

Quote from: themidiroom on January 21, 2009, 02:09:14 PM

I can't speak on how the church handles their books but they don't take takes out of my pay. I don't get a 1099 either.

So they dont tell the IRS how much you get paid? Mine said they would, I hope they dont

themidiroom · « **Reply #15 on:** January 21, 2009, 02:41:15 PM »

Quote from: under13 on January 21, 2009, 02:31:10 PM

So they dont tell the IRS how much you get paid? Mine said they would, I hope they dont

If they are reporting your income to the IRS, then you'll probably get a 1099 form. Do they pay you by check or cash?

under13 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 21, 2009, 02:46:55 PM »

cheque

Fenix · « **Reply #17 on:** January 21, 2009, 02:47:44 PM »

Wait, you mean to tell me you guys actually get paid for real for real?

themidiroom · « **Reply #18 on:** January 21, 2009, 02:57:01 PM »

Quote from: Fenix on January 21, 2009, 02:47:44 PM

Wait, you mean to tell me you guys actually get paid for real for real?

Is that shocking to you? Yes I a paid musician.

under13 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2009, 03:12:35 PM »

Quote from: Fenix on January 21, 2009, 02:47:44 PM

Wait, you mean to tell me you guys actually get paid for real for real?

I was playing free for almost eight months before they even mentioned money. Now they want me to join. Not. Happenning.

Author Topic: WHATS YOUR CITY'S BASE PAY LOOKING LIKE NOW-A-DAYS? (Read 5605 times)