The going rate in NYC seems to be $100/service for Catholic gigs. A service is anything…funeral, rehearsal, regular mass, Easter mass, etc. I work at a very small church without a choir and we only have 2 services a week, sometimes more with a funeral or holy week or something.

So:

$100/service x 2 services/week x 52 weeks a year = $10,400/year

Throw in extra services and it’s probably $13-15k a year.

A nearby church has a choir (2 rehearsals a week) and 5 services on the weekends (1 on Sat and 4 on Sunday). So:

$100/service x 7 services/week x 52 weeks a year = $36,400

It’s probably more like $38-40 with all the extra services.

But still – that’s only 3 days of work a week for $40k. Not bad, really.

The going rate for synagogues in NYC varies. I’ve seen a range between $100 and $250. I’m not sure how many services most synagogues have a week.

I’ve had a lot of experience (12+ years) working in the church, from just accompanying to music directing. I’ve also worked in the Southeast, Midwest, and the Northeast. I’ve worked in Methodist, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Presbyterian churches. In my experience, the best church jobs will follow the salary requirements set forth by the American Organists Guild, which can be found at [url=http://www.agohq.org/profession/indexsalary.html]Salary Guide[/url].

The AGO, functioning half-way between a musician’s union and a professional club, is the recognized authority for most church musicians. They transcend the various denominations, including the protestant/Catholic divide. Particular denominations also have their own professional affiliations (PAM, Presbyterian Association of Musicians, for example).

Anyway, if you are just looking to work as a pianist or organist for a couple services/rehearsals a week, I would say you should make a minimum of $100/session. If you are looking to be a salaried employee, you should proceed with great caution and use the AGO’s salary scale and sample contracts as guidance. Be very wary of any church that is unwilling to consider using an AGO contract, regardless of the pay.

In my experience, the best jobs come from the AGO’s job board.

DISCLAIMER: When I was hired at my current job, you had to be a member of the AGO to look at the board. The jobs were, for the most part, all very legit. I just peeked at the jobs board while writing this, and it seems that anyone can see the board for free. It also appears that they’ve widened their board to include more than church jobs. I therefore cannot speak to the quality of the jobs posted there now.

Also in my experience, the worst jobs are usually advertised in newspapers, craigslist, and other general outlets with a word-count less than 50. Beware, and good luck!

No problem. Church work is a whole universe unto itself, with its own subculture. As David has pointed out in some of his blog posts, it can be a lucrative opportunity for musicians, and it is often overlooked.

I’ll just add that organists in particular can command VERY sweet rates. For example, there are organists in Manhattan that make $350 for playing a few hymns and some instrumental prelude music at a funeral (which is usually no longer than 1-2 hours commitment). I started learning to play organ about five years ago, and it has been well worth it. By playing organ, one increases one’s attractiveness to mainline churches instantly, and they are often willing to pay a premium for this instrument.