At top-level orchestras this is true. For example, at the New York Philharmonic minimum pay was about $150k pre-pandemic, cut to $110k during the pandemic[1].

At top-level orchestras this is true. For example, at the New York Philharmonic minimum pay was about $150k pre-pandemic, cut to $110k during the pandemic[1]. It is not true at less prestigious orchestras, where salaries are much lower. For example, the San Antonio Symphony tried to lower its base salary from just under $36k to just under $18k this past year[2], which resulted in a prolonged strike (still unresolved 6 months later). There are many more less-prestigious orchestras than top-level orchestras, so most orchestral musicians don't get paid salaries comparable to other similarly high skilled professions. Professional music is not unlike professional sports in this regard. [1] https://nonprofitquarterly.org/new-york-philharmonic-players-agree-to-long-term-pay-cut/ https://nonprofitquarterly.org/new-york-philharmonic-players... [2] https://www.sacurrent.com/sanantonio/san-antonio-symphony-musicians-face-proposed-50-pay-cut-for-2020-2021-season/Content?oid=27048280 https://www.sacurrent.com/sanantonio/san-antonio-symphony-mu...