Salary: Varies—see profile
Employment Outlook: Good
Definition and Nature of the Work
Singers use their skills to entertain. Some perform on stage in front of live audiences; others record their voices for television, films, and CDs. They interpret music by using their knowledge of voice production, melody, harmony, and rhythm. Many singers teach voice either through private lessons or in school programs.
There are as many fields for singers as there are kinds of entertainment. Classical singers are categorized by their voice range, usually as soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, or bass. Most often, they perform in operas or musicals and may be part of a choral group. Classical singers sometimes perform in concerts or nightclub acts, movies, television, and radio.
Popular singers perform different types of music such as jazz, rock, blues, folk, ethnic, or country and western. Some are lead singers or members of a group. They may accompany themselves on an instrument such as a guitar or piano or sing with a band or orchestra. Popular singers perform on stage, in musicals, on television, in nightclubs, and in television commercials. Most singers of sacred music sing in religious institutions, either solo or in a choral group. They may also perform on television or radio or in concert. Besides performing, singers spend much of their time taking lessons, practicing, and rehearsing.
Education and Training Requirements
A good voice and a strong musical sense are the most important requirements for a singer. Although some singers have naturally good voices, most are trained
Singers commonly start out by singing in a church or with a small band. Although the field is competitive, those with a good voice and musical sense can often find work.
Although voice training is an asset for singers, it is possible to have a singing career without formal training. Training requirements depend on the field of music. Many rock and folk singers rely on on-the-job training.
Musical comedy singers generally need some stage training and dancing or acting experience to get a job. Music teachers need a bachelor's degree in music and a state teaching certificate. Courses of study in a college music program include foreign languages, drama, music history, music theory, and composition. Those who teach in colleges or conservatories should have either a master's or a doctoral degree in music and several years of private training.
Getting the Job
There are several ways to become a singer. Some people begin by singing in a church or with a small band. They perform wherever they can for the experience. Sometimes they are paid, other times they receive no monetary compensation. An important step in gaining exposure involves making voice recordings known as "demos" that singers can send out to record producers.
Opera singers and those involved in theater must audition, or try out, for roles. Sometimes voice teachers arrange auditions for their students. Agents, who are paid a percentage of singers' earnings, help them locate jobs and auditions. Voice teachers can apply directly to schools, colleges, music conservatories, or private music schools for faculty positions.
Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook
Singers may advance from unknown amateurs to highly paid professionals, but advancement requires talent, hard work, and good career management. Publicity and promotion are very important for a successful singing career. Advancement is most difficult for opera and concert singers and easiest for music teachers. Opera singers must have extremely good voices and training. There are very few jobs in opera, whereas many more positions are open to teachers. The job outlook for singing teachers is very good, as job growth is expected to grow faster than the average through 2014. Teachers usually advance by seniority as well as by the success of their students.
Employment for singers is expected to increase about as fast as the average through the year 2014, but competition will be keen. There will be a faster than average rate of growth in religious music, and a slower than average rate of growth for self-employed musicians.
Working Conditions
Singers generally work at night or on weekends and often practice and record on weekdays. They seldom have holidays free, because this is when they get more job offers. Some singers go on tour and have little money for hotels and food. Many work more than forty hours a week.
Since singers often perform only part time and work irregularly, some need other jobs to supplement their income. Singing is both demanding and rewarding work. It requires physical stamina, good health, and patience. Singers work in a wide variety of places: indoors from church halls to concert stages and nightclubs and outdoors from domed stadiums to makeshift stages.
Earnings and Benefits
Earnings for singers vary widely. According to the Occupational Employment Statistics survey of 2004, the median salary for singers is $17.85 per hour. Popular singers can make more than $53.59 per hour, and a few wildly successful artists make much more than that.
Teachers' salaries vary by school and region and with the amount of education the teacher has had. The median hourly salary for a singing teacher is $14.85, with the more experienced credentialed teachers making a salary of $28.85 per hour or more. High school and college teachers usually receive health insurance and pension plans. Private teachers must provide their own benefits.
User Comments Add a comment…
28 days ago
Hello, my name is Dafnee and I'm sixteen years old. I love to sing more than anyone coud ever imagine. I have attended Canadian Idol and I made it all the way to third round. It was a great experience. I would love to become a singer more than anything. Do you know about any canadian singing contests or anything I could participate in? This website was very useful for my career choice course. Thank you very much. Dafnee.
about 1 month ago
hi i am lauyrn i live in columbia maryland and i love to sing and i am 13 i will be come a famous singer in 1 year from now maybe i hope.
about 1 month ago
whats up my names Helen and im 13 turning 14. well i wanna become a singer so bad,everyone says that i should enter american idol when im 16 but i dont wanna wait that long! Singing is my life actually, i do it every single day, i dont really care about the money but i just want everyone to know that im a really good singer!
about 1 month ago
hi my name is tenille jacos and i really want to be a famous or well known contemporary gospal singer!! i am 13 yars old and ive been in about three contest!!!!! on one of them i was runner up for singing i can only imagine. i just hope that one day i will be able to persue my dream!!!!
about 1 month ago
I am goimg to become a famouse singer but first i have to raise up my grades witch is going to be a little challanging
about 1 month ago
my name is lacey and singing is my passion. im 14 and dont know how to become a singer.
2 months ago
i am 14 years old and singing is my passion
2 months ago
hi im 16 and i love to SING i love to SING so much that i entered to SING on Americas Got Talent
2 months ago
hi im 15 and ive got a great voice do u know of any singers choirs in the La area.
2 months ago
My name is Yesenia Ureno i want to become a singer but i dont know what to do im 14 years old and i sing every day so everybody could hear me ... please e-mail me !!!
2 months ago
I love singing with a passion thats all I want to do I know I have the talent I just have to work at it and improve but when I sing or write music I express how I feel and I feel like Im in a whole other world where no one can tell me anything, I just want everybody out there to hear what I have to say and listen to my music and where Im coming from with my emotions and expressed throughout my lyrics and hopefully get that chill go down their spine when they listen to one of my songs and really enjoy it but have that little beat to it that you can bounce to lol.... I know becoming a singer is a lot of work but I can stay positive and do what I gotta do to pursue into the singing feild and I can take anything critisism, haters and people that dont like me Im just goin to do what I do regardless but if anyone reads this my name is Essence and you can send an email to my email adress if you want to and contact me and I live in Buffalo, NY and I hope to become a singer one day so I can let everyone around the world listen to my music and feel where I come from much love, Essence!
2 months ago
Hey my name is Jasmine since I was a little girl I loved to sing any kind of music didnt matter what it was.. I would love to get involved in the music industry. Rite now iam 16 years old and becoming a singer would make my dream come true.! Please email n help
2 months ago
I am an aspiring young singer in miami florida and i really want to do this for a living but don't see any current options..help!!
2 months ago
Hey..my name is Chelsea !!!I'm 15 years old. I really want to become a well known singer! It has always been my dream...i'm always in competitions and always winning them ...i have many people calling me to make arrangements for me to sing for all kinds of things such as: reunions, pageants, church engagements, opening of fairs, weddings, graduation party's, and the list goes on...i am going to make my new cd soon...i sing all diffrent kinds of music but my main source of music is country!!! so if you know of anybody who can help me become a star...plz do !!!...much appreciation..thanks
2 months ago
I'm graduating next year and moving to Dallas, hoping to get involved in the local rock scene and hook up with people to start my band. I know some people, so hopefully once my band gets going well, we can get in the studio and start recording. Send your support or just check me out at myspace.com/patrickstumphsfuturewife !!!
2 months ago
anyone that wants to be in a studio hit me up i do all genres im out bounce! KJ_Pimp_Star@hotmail.com -Yung Typhoon
2 months ago
sinin is awesome
3 months ago
i suck at singing! even here me! but i really want to be a singer. i live in massachusetts, and im 10. email me soon!
3 months ago
Hi, My name is Jess Lowe, I'm 13, and I am like a baby Whitney Huston and want to share my singing talents with the world!I am very passionate about my singing, and I really want to be a singer.I want to let people hear my talents!!If there is anything that you can do to help me....please do. Cheers. . . .
3 months ago
Im 16 and looking forward to being a singer, one day!
3 months ago
i've always wanted to be asinger! It's my dream.
3 months ago
I love too sing that is my thing hopefully 1 day i will make it in the music industry and become a famous singer!!! cause if i set my mind 2 anything i know i can do it! 4 sure
3 months ago
hi i'm katrina i love to sing it's my favourite thing to do in the whole world i am 14 years old have a beautiful voice i'm always inviolved in all kinds of singing activities like 2 church youth group choirs (there on diffrent days), karaokee nights,school choir and schooltalent shows/concerts. i've been singing since i was 3 years old i've also sung in a public performance a few times i'm into sad songs also fast moving happy songs i fell in love with music i have passion for it i practice hours a day sadly i have never ran into a singer or producer in my life i live in chatham i would love to sing a song for you any time i have never been stage fright
3 months ago
My name is Tina (aka) Dasia Marie! Singing is my favorite thing to do in the hole world. I've been singing since i was 4 years old and i'm 17 now. I pray everynight that someone will discover me. You see, i don't want to be a singer because they make good money, although it would be nice. I just want to be heard because i know there are people out there that feel the same way i do deep down. I want to let them know they are not alone, the same way artist's today make me feel when i'm going through hard time's. There is nothing more healing and soothing than music. I write my own song's and i have great material. I know you can't hear my voice but if you could you would tell me that i would be like mariah carey, or beyonce! I would give my life for the hole world to just hear one of my songs. If there's anything you can do to help me pursue my dream i would even pay you everything i have!
3 months ago
Im 15 and im going to move to L.A. to become a singer! hear some of my music at myspace.com/supermayne187
3 months ago
I love singing its my passion. I love emo music. It makes me feel sicotic and loved.
3 months ago
hey my name is kayla and I am 16 years old. I have won many competions and I believe I am a very good singer. E-Mail me!
3 months ago
wassup people...my dream is also to become a famous singer..i dont really care about the salary but follow and achieve a dream is what really satisfies me....^^
4 months ago
What's up my name is Shanda I have been singing since I was around the age 6. During a variety of things like singing in church, at school in the choir, at school concerts and just on holidays chillin with my family. I am now at the age of 15 and I have been hoping and waitin for my big break. I plan to become a very famous singer one day. However, it would be in my best wishes if you could help me out. If you would like to help me just hit my e-mail at mizzsexy14caramel@yahoo.com
4 months ago
I've been singing ever since I could talk. I really hope that I will be able to get on American Idol when I'm 16. I've been taking lessons for about a year. If you know anybody in the music industry please e-mail me at kendall_rocks@hotmail.com, thankz.
4 months ago
I'm about to turn 16 in August and I am so happy because now I'll be able to be in this year's American Idol. I love to sing this is the only thing I've ever had a passion for of doing. Right now I get interested in small stuff like competitions but I wanna be out there in the world sharing the voice that God gave me to have. I've been singing since I was 2 yrs. old and hopefully one day my voice will be set free. Thanx for the overview!
4 months ago
hey. i'm tunring 17 years old in November. i have a wonderful voice. and i've been singing since i was 4 years old. Singing is my life, it's my passion. i love it to death. so if anyone can get me a gig. email me..
5 months ago
Hi my name is molly and I'm 15 years old! I have a beautiful voice, but can't seem to find anyone that can put me in the studio!! I need help please!! If you can help me you can send me an email at lilmama_2k11@yahoo.com!!! Thanks:)
5 months ago
At the age of 15 and looking for a singing career hopefully soon. I love singing its practically my life i write my own lyrics. I'm living only in a dream i want to make it real! and get out there my e-mail is cheroneyk@fvsd.ab.ca if u can pass on some advice on how i can get started Thanks :)
5 months ago
thanks 2 u guyz i am now on the path to becoming a famous singer!!!!
7 months ago
I am attaining to be a famous singer one day. However I currently am jobless and hoping my singing career will pick up and flourish. I was just curious as to how much singers made and this has helped to give me a general overview. Thankyou