Musicians and singers use their vocal and instrumental talents to write, compose and perform music in a variety of settings, from playing bass in a house band to working as a backup session singer.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage of musicians and singers was $21.24 in May 2008. Those in performing-arts companies and salaried music directors and composers earned more.
Musicians and singers work unorthodox hours and time periods. Most of their work is done at night and on weekends. Many singers and musicians have to tour for long periods of time to maintain their careers.
Singers and musicians have to adapt to changing trends, just like workers in any other business. Cover bands have to change their repertoire, for instance, to reflect current songs.
Many musicians and singers have long periods of unemployment between jobs and are forced to take unrelated work outside of their occupation. Sting worked as a schoolteacher, for example, before hitting it big with The Police.