Important Question About Salary

[Tezzy21]

Hello LGM Family.
   
     Recently, I have been playing at multiple churches trying to find a good fit for myself.  I have been playing for about 3 years now(self-taught) and is 22 years of age. I also attend college full-time while playing on Sundays. While visiting these churches, I never asked for money until some church insisted on paying me. My question to you all is what kind of salary pay do I discuss with these churches? Whats the appropriate way discussing pay? Someone of my experience, whats the expected pay?

I know you might need more questions answered before you can give me an estimate on how much I should get paid so just ask me.

[PianoClubhouse]

How much time is required of you?
How many rehearsals per week?
How many worship services (Sunday and mid week/bible study)?
Any additional duties (directing, teaching songs, band director etc.)?
Are you carrying the service on your own, or are there other musicians?

Those are just the ones that popped into my head......

I think pay scales can be all over the map! When i first started in college, i was getting like $25 a sunday, and was happy...LOL. I think i read in another post recently (talking about musicians pay in Houston i think) that they were getting like 300-600 per sunday. My guess is that those are much larger churches, with thousands of members, that have the weekly income (tithes/offerings) to sustain paying musicians at that level.

So, a lot of times its more a matter of what the church is able to do, rather than what your expected pay is.

I'll wait for others to chime in, as I haven't been in a situation where i've had to bring up the subject or negotiate a salary, so i can't speak to that, and am not sure how best to approach it. But thought I would raise a few questions that came to my mind.

Hope that helps.

Tj

[cwgolden99]

How much time is required of you?
How many rehearsals per week?
How many worship services (Sunday and mid week/bible study)?
Any additional duties (directing, teaching songs, band director etc.)?
Are you carrying the service on your own, or are there other musicians?

Those are just the ones that popped into my head......

I think pay scales can be all over the map! When i first started in college, i was getting like $25 a sunday, and was happy...LOL. I think i read in another post recently (talking about musicians pay in Houston i think) that they were getting like 300-600 per sunday. My guess is that those are much larger churches, with thousands of members, that have the weekly income (tithes/offerings) to sustain paying musicians at that level.

So, a lot of times its more a matter of what the church is able to do, rather than what your expected pay is.

I'll wait for others to chime in, as I haven't been in a situation where i've had to bring up the subject or negotiate a salary, so i can't speak to that, and am not sure how best to approach it. But thought I would raise a few questions that came to my mind.

Hope that helps.

Tj

All of the stuff he mentioned is good information to take into consideration. 

As for me, during my initial interview with the pastor, he asked what would I like my pay to be.  (Previous to this, I'd never been asked that question and hadn't been paid to play in over 3 years.)  Considering I knew what the last musician made and what the church was capable of paying I said $1000/month.  He was like ok! 

On average I do about 3-4 rehearsals per week (praise team and choir) attend bible study, sunday school and I teach songs and parts.  I also play for any special programs (anniversaries, appreciations etc.) I'm also the only musician.

Whatever you do.  GET IT IN WRITING!!!!!!  I got messed over not to long ago and didn't have a contract or a leg to stand on.  SO any business I do w/ the church I now do on a contract JUST IN CASE!!!!

[csedwards2]

Few other considerations...

How far is it away from your home  (mileage)
Do you have to bring your own equipment?
What your major is in college? (if its music, you should charge more)
Are you leading worship?
How many groups?
If its your home church or not? (sometimes I think I need to charge extra because the secondary churches are pulling me away from my home church)