RSCM Salary Scales 2005 Print-Friendlly Version

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RSCM-Recommended Salary Scales for Church Musicians 2005-6

This page lists RSCM recommended minimum rates for salaries and fees for church musicians parish churches.
The basis for their calculation is as follows:

The hourly rates and fees are those set by the ISM for professional musicians, with proportionate rates for amateur musicians. 'Professional' means those musicians who are professionally qualified and whose principal earnings come from performing and/or teaching music; 'amateur' means those whose main earnings come from non-musical activities.
The RSCM recommended salary scales for Directors of Music (and comparable positions) in churches with significant musical resources including amateur singers and/or players (Category A in the tables) assume 1 or 2 services and 1 or 2 practices each week (a commitment of roughly 4 hours in services and practices); those for churches with more modest musical resources (Category B in the tables) assume 1 practice and 1 or 2 services each week (a commitment of roughly 3 hours in practices and services).
Recommended salary scales for those who play only, and have no responsibility for choirs or music groups, assume 1 or 2 services a week (a commitment of roughly 2 hours, excluding private practice): the differentiation in salaries takes into account the greater musical demands and preparation required.
Hourly rates are also included to help those involved in negotiation to settle on 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 which lie outside the church's normal annual pattern. These follow the ISM recommendations. In deciding on the appropriate level of fee, consideration should be given to the musical demands made which may be either 'substantial' (e.g. psalms, settings, anthems etc.) involving significant preparation, or less demanding (e.g. hymns and voluntaries only) - signified as 'normal'.
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; it is recommended, however, that salaries and fees be agreed and then donated back to the church, since this establishes a cost for the post, making 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. Affiliates and Individual Members of the RSCM may buy copies of an Agreement for the Appointment of a Director of Music from the RSCM (£3.95 + £1 p&p).
The Organist's Guide to Employment (including self-employment) is available from the Incorporated Society of Musicians, 10 Stratford Place, London W1N 9AE Tel: 0207 629 4413 Fax: 0207 408 1538, http//www.ism.org.
Advice and resources for RSCM-affiliated churches are always available for the administrative and musical staff of the RSCM, Cleveland Lodge, Westhumble, Dorking RH5 6BW, Tel: 01306 872800 Fax: 01306 887260 email: enquiries@rscm.com, website: http://www.rscm.com/.

RATES FOR AMATEUR MUSICIANS i.e. those who earn their living principally outside the world of music
Salaries for Church Musicians
ROLE	CHURCH		ANNUAL SALARY	ADDITIONAL SERVICES (hourly rate)
Director of Music	Category A		£2,704 - £3,259	£13.00 - £15.67
	Category B		£1,690 - £2,158	£10.83 - £13.83
Organist only	Category A		£1,352 - £2,271*	£13.00 - £21.83*
	Category B		£988 - £1,352	£9.50 - £13.00
ISM suggests the upper rate as appropriate for services at national centres Category A = church with significant amateur musical resources Category B = church with more modest musical provision Fees for Weddings, Memorial Services and Special Services*
ROLE		MUSICAL CONTRIBUTION		MIN FEES PER SERVICE
Director of Music (incl rehearsal)				£67.00
Organist only		substantial		£48.00
		normal		£37.00
Recommended fees for Funerals
ROLE		MUSICAL CONTRIBUTION		MIN FEES PER SERVICE
Organist only		substantial		£42.00
		normal		£31.00
'Substantial musical contribution' = significant preparation (e.g. psalms, settings, anthems, special organ pieces) 'Normal musical contribution' = hymns and voluntaries only
RATES FOR PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS For professionally qualified musicians who earn their living principally by performing and/or teaching music
Salaries for Church Musicians
ROLE	CHURCH		ANNUAL SALARY	EXTRA SERVICES (hourly rate)
Director of Music	Category A		£4,056 - £4,888	£19.50 - £23.50
	Category B		£2,535 - £3,237	£16.25 - £20.75
Organist only	Category A		£2,028 - £3,406	£19.50 - £32.75*
	Category B		£1,482 - £2,028	£14.25 - £19.50
ISM suggests the upper rate as appropriate for services at national centres Category A = church with significant amateur musical resources Category B = church with more modest musical provision Fees for Weddings, Memorial Services and Special Services*
ROLE		MUSICAL CONTRIBUTION		MIN FEES PER SERVICE
Director of Music (incl rehearsal)				£101.00
Organist only		substantial		£72.00
		normal		£55.00
Recommended fees for Funerals
ROLE		MUSICAL CONTRIBUTION		MIN FEES PER SERVICE
Organist only		substantial		£63.00
		normal		£46.75
'Substantial musical contribution' = significant preparation (e.g. psalms, settings, anthems, special organ pieces) 'Normal musical contribution' = hymns and voluntaries only

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