The Chicago Lyric Opera has made a tentative contract agreement with its musicians. “Salary increases, 5 percent annually during the last contract, would be lower. The orchestra’s annual average base salary, according to the union, was $50,050 for the 2002-03 season. Adding in overtime and premiums such as bonuses for length of service that increase every orchestra member’s paycheck, Lyric management says the actual average salary is $79,409 per year.”