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How much does your pianist make?

Discussion in 'Music Ministry' started by TaterTot, Feb 9, 2006.

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  1. TaterTot

    TaterTot Guest

    ***This is NOT a thread to debate whether or not a pianist should be paid. Please dont take it there.***

    I just want to know how much your church pays your pianist (or IF he/she is paid) and the size of your church. Thanks [​IMG]
     
    #1 TaterTot, Feb 9, 2006
  2. PastorSBC1303

    PastorSBC1303 Active Member

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    Our church does not pay our pianist. We have discussed it at times and the pianist did not want to be paid. Our church runs 90-110 on a normal Sunday morning.
     
    #2 PastorSBC1303, Feb 9, 2006
  3. m&m

    m&m New Member

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    We ue several members of the church who play piano well, none of them paid.
     
    #3 m&m, Feb 9, 2006
  4. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    We have three musicians that are paid. I honestly don't know how much, but they're not getting rich.

    They play for three Sunday services and Wednesday night rehearsal for choir.
     
    #4 rbell, Feb 9, 2006
  5. TaterTot

    TaterTot Guest

    Thanks for no hijack so far [​IMG]

    Our church has never paid one before, and we are having to hire one now. Just want to know what the going rate is.
     
    #5 TaterTot, Feb 9, 2006
  6. padredurand

    padredurand Well-Known Member
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    Our piano player gets the pastor's salary minus $10.00. :D
     
    #6 padredurand, Feb 9, 2006
  7. ccrobinson

    ccrobinson Active Member

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    I've been playing in church for 24 years and have never been paid for it.

    Sunday morning averages
    1st church: 20-30
    2nd church: 150-200
    3rd church: 400-500
     
    #7 ccrobinson, Feb 9, 2006
  8. Gib

    Gib Active Member

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    Primary pianist - $35 a week
    Organist & other pianist - $15 a service (only play 1 service a week)
     
    #8 Gib, Feb 9, 2006
  9. TaterTot

    TaterTot Guest

    Gib, how big is your church?
     
    #9 TaterTot, Feb 9, 2006
  10. Joshua Rhodes

    Joshua Rhodes <img src=/jrhodes.jpg>

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    In former churches, my pianist/organist were always paid. In my current church, I'm the keyboardist too, so they don't pay someone seperately.

    The going rate in our area of Texas when I served down there was about $25 a service. This varies with church size, but I felt that this was a fair amount.

    In His Grip,
    joshua
     
    #10 Joshua Rhodes, Feb 9, 2006
  11. Gib

    Gib Active Member

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    We average 75 in Sunday School. 100 or so in morning worship.
     
    #11 Gib, Feb 9, 2006
  12. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    I think our pianist makes $75 per Sunday morning. But I'm not sure, to be honest.

    Of interest, however, is the fact that my cousin's church has a spiffy carillon (with real bells, not electronic). They pay a carilloneur $50 per Sunday to play the thing on Sunday mornings. The downside is that the klavier is 12 stories up, in the open air!!! You couldn't pay me enough to climb the thing!!!
     
    #12 Johnv, Feb 9, 2006
  13. PJ

    PJ Active Member
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    Tater, we have four pianists and one organist. None are paid; none want to be paid. We run 85-110 in the Sunday AM service.
     
    #13 PJ, Feb 9, 2006
  14. TaterTot

    TaterTot Guest

    Wow, I'd love to play that!

    When I was a church pianist, I made $75 a week - 3 services + choir practice. We ran about 100 in SS.

    Our committee is thinking along the lines of about $150 a week. Thats what they pay me as music director, and I have a masters in church music, lol.

    But we need someone and if we are going to hire someone, we want to do it right.
     
    #14 TaterTot, Feb 9, 2006
  15. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    If you guys pay $150 per week, (assuming that's per person?) that puts you way up the pay scale on intstrumentalists.

    Not fussing at all, just stating I think you guys will be a good bit above the median.
     
    #15 rbell, Feb 9, 2006
  16. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Well, I guess I am going to be the odd man out.

    My church runs about 175-200 on Sunday morning and 100-150 on Sunday nights. Wednesday nights are around 50.

    I am paid $425 per month and I get a COLA raise and Christmas bonus whenever the pastor does.

    In exchange for that, I am expected to play anything set before me at any given time. Period.

    No matter the difficulty level.

    No matter if is it 5 minutes before a worship service or even in the middle of a worship service if a cd or tape messes up.

    I am literally at the beck and call of the minister of music during the entire week.

    I am expected to take off of work to play for all funerals. I do not charge for funerals of church members or of personal friends.

    I can charge what I want to for weddings. My standard fee is $75 be they church member or not.
     
    #16 Scarlett O., Feb 9, 2006
  17. Petrel

    Petrel New Member

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    My spouse is a part-time choir director/organist. Our last church paid ~$9,000 yearly, current one ~$11,000. Attendance for both Sunday morning is approximately 100-125.

    These are churches with real pipe organs though, so the priorities in music are probably different than in most Baptist churches.
     
    #17 Petrel, Feb 9, 2006
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