How Much can a Classic Pianist Make?

Question:what does their job entail, what do they do meaning events and how much can they make approximately a year?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: what does their job entail, what do they do meaning events and how much can they make approximately a year?

The above answer is wrong.

How much one can make will depend on one's location. If you are in a big city where there's lots of union work (for example, New York), then a pianist can get jobs at hotel lounges at union scale. You can see the scale structure here:
http://www.local1000.org/members/dues-fe...
Note that these are minimums, and some jobs will pay more than scale for a respected, well known performer.

If you are in locations that don't have a strong union presence--and generally those are the places that have the least interest in classical--then yes, your friend is liable to starve on a pianist's income, most of which would come from playing for church services.

Note that your friend could also pick up money as an accompanist, and if s/he was willing to branch out into other styles of music, wedding receptions and night clubs.

It depends on them and their agent.

Classical is not in huge demand. You do functions. If you're really good and have a name you tour.

Mostly they work in Orchestras and that's a union job and it's seasonal. Pay varies from $75 a night to a flat rate per year as part of a symphony.

Maybe you get $25K, 35K and work 6 months out of the year.

The other times you do recitials or parties for whatever your agent can get you.

Some sitautions pay $1000 a night.

Not much.