PCUSA on Wages for Musicians
Through the Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) and the office of Theology and Worship in the Congregational Ministries Division, the Presbyterian Church (USA) offers employment guidelines for support of musicians who serve the church.
The PAM suggests entry-level salary ranges, by education level. (For each 10 years of experience, it is recommended that the salary be advanced by one education level.)
To determine salary within the ranges, "categories of service" are suggested. The lowest category is "Functional Church Musician;" the middle category is "Vocational Church Musician"; the highest category is "Pastoral Church Musician." 2PC is searching for someone in this highest category.
Ranges are to be adjusted based on the local cost of living.
The guildines indicate that benefits should be figured at an additional 20-30% of base salary.
On March 31, 2007, 54 job listings were posted on the PAM Job Listings site. Of these, 47 included information on salary.
Of those listings with salary information 79% offered lower bound salaries at or above the ranges suggested by the Presbyterian Church.
2PC is among the 10 churches that have chosen to post job listings with lower bound and/or upper bound salaries below the PAM guidelines.
(These figures include cost of living adjustments for 15 of the 47 observations. In other cases, I simply looked to see if the lowest implied hourly rate in a listing was entirely within or above the guidelines. No adjustment has been made for category of service. This lack of adjustment makes it "easier" for an observation to fall within the guidelines.)
It is more difficult to determine how many churches have chosen to abide the guidelines on benefits, based on information contained in the listings. Of those positions listed at 20+ hours per week, 85% offer major medical insurance. (2PC is among this 85%, and has chosen to follow the benefits guideline.) This figure is at least indicative that many churches abide the benefits as well as the salary guidelines.
The entry-level hourly rate suggested in the guidelines for candidates with a Master's degree is $24.69-$29.75. With a discount for the cost of living in St. Louis (which is 3.2% lower than the national average), this range is $23.90-$28.80.
The entry-level hourly rate sugested in the guidelines for candidates with a Bachelor's degree is $17.25-$24.69. With a cost of living adjustment, this range is $16.70-$23.90.
Our posted salary of $25,000 - $30,000 for 30-40 hours of work weekly (assuming paid vacation) implies an hourly rate of $16.03 - $19.23 (30 hours) or $12.02 - $14.42 (40 hours). Thus, the upper bound of our offered range falls within the suggested rate for candidates with a Bachelor's degree, assuming 30 hours of work (and the lower bound is just a near miss). The posted range does not at all overlap (not even the upper bound) within the suggested rate for candidates with a Master's degree - our preferred candidate.
The PAM suggests entry-level salary ranges, by education level. (For each 10 years of experience, it is recommended that the salary be advanced by one education level.)
To determine salary within the ranges, "categories of service" are suggested. The lowest category is "Functional Church Musician;" the middle category is "Vocational Church Musician"; the highest category is "Pastoral Church Musician." 2PC is searching for someone in this highest category.
Ranges are to be adjusted based on the local cost of living.
The guildines indicate that benefits should be figured at an additional 20-30% of base salary.
On March 31, 2007, 54 job listings were posted on the PAM Job Listings site. Of these, 47 included information on salary.
Of those listings with salary information 79% offered lower bound salaries at or above the ranges suggested by the Presbyterian Church.
2PC is among the 10 churches that have chosen to post job listings with lower bound and/or upper bound salaries below the PAM guidelines.
(These figures include cost of living adjustments for 15 of the 47 observations. In other cases, I simply looked to see if the lowest implied hourly rate in a listing was entirely within or above the guidelines. No adjustment has been made for category of service. This lack of adjustment makes it "easier" for an observation to fall within the guidelines.)
It is more difficult to determine how many churches have chosen to abide the guidelines on benefits, based on information contained in the listings. Of those positions listed at 20+ hours per week, 85% offer major medical insurance. (2PC is among this 85%, and has chosen to follow the benefits guideline.) This figure is at least indicative that many churches abide the benefits as well as the salary guidelines.
The entry-level hourly rate suggested in the guidelines for candidates with a Master's degree is $24.69-$29.75. With a discount for the cost of living in St. Louis (which is 3.2% lower than the national average), this range is $23.90-$28.80.
The entry-level hourly rate sugested in the guidelines for candidates with a Bachelor's degree is $17.25-$24.69. With a cost of living adjustment, this range is $16.70-$23.90.
Our posted salary of $25,000 - $30,000 for 30-40 hours of work weekly (assuming paid vacation) implies an hourly rate of $16.03 - $19.23 (30 hours) or $12.02 - $14.42 (40 hours). Thus, the upper bound of our offered range falls within the suggested rate for candidates with a Bachelor's degree, assuming 30 hours of work (and the lower bound is just a near miss). The posted range does not at all overlap (not even the upper bound) within the suggested rate for candidates with a Master's degree - our preferred candidate.
posted by Bonnie at
6:16 PM
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