“According to the survey, orchestral musicians earn an average of £28,579 per year – of which £25,126 comes from their orchestral contract. (According to the Office of National Statistics, the UK average salary last year was £22,060.) The pay scale is fairly flat across the sector, with 71 per cent of respondents earning between £20,000 and £30,000. 14 per cent earned below that, and 15 per cent above. Over the last three years, musicians’ average earnings have risen at slightly below the rate of inflation.”