This page lists the current RSCM recommendations for salaries and fees for church musicians engaged in parish churches and similar places of worship. The recommendations are not mandatory, but are intended as a guide for negotiation.
The basis for their calculation is as follows:
- A distinction is made between professional and amateur musicians. 'Professional' denotes those professionally qualified musicians whose principal earnings come from performing and/or teaching music; 'amateur' means those whose main earnings come from non-musical activities.
- The recommendations for Directors of Music (and comparable positions) are divided into those for
a) Category A churches with significant musical resources including amateur singers and/or players (1 or 2 services and 1 or 2 practices each week - a total of roughly 4 hours) and
b) Category B churches with more modest musical resources (1 practice and 1 or 2 services each week - a total of roughly 3 hours). - The recommendations for those who play only, with no responsibility for choirs or music groups, assume 1 or 2 services a week (roughly 2 hours, excluding private practice), and take into account the difference in musical demands and preparation.
- Hourly rates are included to help determine an appropriate level of salary, and to take account of payments for especially demanding weeks with additional services (e.g. Holy Week).
- NB: The ISM publishes a higher scale of salaries and hourly rates for Directors of Music in large churches with more extensive demands and/or paid singers.
- Separate fees are indicated for weddings, memorial services, funerals and special services. In deciding on the fee, the musical demands should be considered. These may be either 'substantial' (e.g. psalms, settings, anthems etc.) and involve significant preparation, or 'normal' - less demanding (e.g. hymns and voluntaries only).
- Fees should be increased if an audio recording is made (up to 50%) and if a video recording is made (up to 100%). Requests to make a recording should be made in advance of the event to the Director of Music/Organist.
- Some church musicians prefer not to be paid, or to accept a much-reduced level of remuneration. However, it is recommended that salaries and fees be agreed and then donated back to the church, since this establishes a cost for the post, and makes it easier to offer a realistic salary to attract successors.
- ASSISTANTS: Salary levels for assistants should be not less than 60 - 75% of those of the Director of Music or Organist whom they assist.
- DEPUTISING ORGANISTS: Where deputies are used for regular practices and services (e.g. during holidays) they should be paid at the hourly rate shown on the tables below, with a minimum payment for 2 hours.
- Churches are strongly recommended to enter into a written agreement with the Director of Music, Music Leader or Organist. The Incorporated Society of Musicians publishes The Organist's Guide to Employment and Fees, and a range of contracts an agreemens, which an be bought online at http//www.ism.org. (The Incorporated Society of Musicians, 10 Stratford Place, London W1N 9AE Tel: 0207 629 4413 Fax: 0207 408 1538.
- Advice and resources for RSCM-affiliated churches are always aailable from the administrative and musical staff of the RSCM, 19 The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 2EB, Tel: 020 7629 4413 Fax: 020 7408 1538 email: enquiries@rscm.com, website: http://www.rscm.com/.
- Please note: these fees derive from the tables previously issued by the ISM. However, as a body representing the interests of musicians, the ISM has been unable under the terms of the Competition Act 1998 to publish such tables since 2004. The RSCM is preparing a new scale of salaries and fees based on other appropriate public models. Details of this new scale will be issued by the end of 2007, and will in due course replace hte current model.
RATES FOR AMATEUR MUSICIANS |
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Salaries for Church Musicians |
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| ROLE | CHURCH | ANNUAL SALARY | ADDITIONAL SERVICES (hourly rate) | |
| Director of Music | Category A | £2,880 - £3,470 | £14.00 - £16.50 | |
| Category B | £1,800 - £2,300 | £11.50 - £14.50 | ||
| Organist only | Category A | £1,440 - £2,420* | £14.00 - £23.00* | |
| Category B | £1,050 - £1,440 | £10.00 - £14.00 | ||
*the upper rate is appropriate for servuces at major churches Category A = church with significant amateur musical resources Fees for Weddings, Memorial Services and Special Services |
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| ROLE | MUSICAL CONTRIBUTION | MIN FEES PER SERVICE | ||
| Director of Music (incl rehearsal) | £71.00 | |||
| Organist only | substantial | £51.00 | ||
| normal | £39.00 | |||
Recommended fees for Funerals |
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| ROLE | MUSICAL CONTRIBUTION | MIN FEES PER SERVICE | ||
| Organist only | substantial | £45.00 | ||
| normal | £33.00 | |||
'Substantial musical contribution' = significant preparation (e.g. psalms, settings, anthems, special organ pieces)
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RATES FOR PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS |
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Salaries for Church Musicians |
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| ROLE | CHURCH | ANNUAL SALARY | EXTRA SERVICES (hourly rate) | |
| Director of Music | Category A | £4,320 - £5,200 | £21.00 - £25.50 | |
| Category B | £2,700 - £3,630* | £17.00 - £22.00 | ||
| Organist only | Category A | £2,160 - £3,630 | £21.50 - £35.00* | |
| Category B | £1,580 - £2,160 | £15.00 - £21.00 | ||
*the upper rate is appropriate for services at major churches Category A = church with significant amateur musical resources Fees for Weddings, Memorial Services and Special Services |
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| ROLE | MUSICAL CONTRIBUTION | MIN FEES PER SERVICE | ||
| Director of Music (incl rehearsal) | £108.00 | |||
| Organist only | substantial | £77.00 | ||
| normal | £59.00 | |||
Recommended fees for Funerals |
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| ROLE | MUSICAL CONTRIBUTION | MIN FEES PER SERVICE | ||
| Organist only | substantial | £67.00 | ||
| normal | £50.00 | |||
'Substantial musical contribution' = significant preparation (e.g. psalms, settings, anthems, special organ pieces) |
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