Opera Singer's Income

If you are considering classical singing, get ready for the grind. It is harder to sing classical then pop, but the rewards last longer with classical music.

The beginning opera singer does things for free in college. Most of us study in college. So everything you do will be pro bono, unless there is an opera chorus around you. After you pass that stage. you have to build a reputation.

Your income depends on the company you will be working for, the size of your rep, and what role you are singing. Some smaller companies might start you off with $300 to $1,000 a performance IF you have a decent role. Chorus members in a smaller or B list company will usually get a lump sum at the end. In the US, the chorus doesn't earn much money, unless the company is pretty established and extremely reputable.
The Met used to start chorus members with $75,000 dollars a year. It might be higher now. But Met chorus singers are ALL established singers who have careers of their own on a whole new level.

There is more money for opera in the overseas. Not only for leads, but also with the chorus. They value opera more overseas, and they put more money into it. Also, classical singers get paid to sing oratorios, solos, and other events. The pay varies, but if you are good, you wouldn't charge less than $100 for ANY service.
Once you get into the big leagues, the pay is phenomenal. We are talking in the hundreds of thousands of dollars just for one role or one performance. But MOST opera singers don't get to that point, just as any other genre.

Opera singers usually don't make money on album sells. Like pop stars who make money off of tours and ads, opera stars make money off of recital tours and singing roles with opera companies. Whether you can earn alot of money is really up to how hard you are willing to work.

Most classical singers have another job FOR YEARS in order to stay afloat, because you are constantly auditioning and paying for coachings, classes and lessons. THIS IS WHY IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to get your degree in music. Without that degree, you can't teach. You will be stuck waiting tables and doing hard jobs without flexible hours. The majority of opera singers retire and teach anyway.
But if you are ready to deal with alot of rejection and times of frustration, and EXTREMELY hard work, you can earn alot of money. But the reality is, the opera industry is a cruel and unforgiving world .

The plus side to being an opera singer is longevity. While the shelf life for the average contemporary singer is 5 years, opera singers will have a career for 20 years PLUS. Opera singers know they can depend on their gift even if they might not have the curves or the looks to be onstage.

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