I never knew how to value myself as a designer. Here's what I made while freelancing:
2011:
Blue Man Group Chicago, Audio Engineer $18/hr
Million Dollar Quartet, Audio Engineer, $100/show flat fee
Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Audio overhire, $15/hr
Total income: $25,570
2012:
Symphonic Pops Concert (touring), Sound Designer & Engineer, $1300/wk
Plus hourly income from Chicago Shakespeare and Lookingglass Theatre at $12 to $16/hr
Total income: $40,200
2013:
Symphonic Pops Concert (touring), Sound Designer & Engineer, $1300/wk
Plus hourly income from Chicago Shakespeare and Lookingglass Theatre at $12 to $16/hr plus hourly income at Goodman Theatre and Drury Lane Oak Brook (I don't remember the rate)
Total income: $38,200
2014:
Timeline Theatre, Sound Designer (play), $1100 total fee
Writers Theatre, Sound Designer (musical), $2400 total fee
Light Opera Works, Sound Designer (musical), $1000 total fee
Bay City State Theater, Sound Designer & engineer (concert), $1000 total fee
Dee Snider's Rock & Roll Christmas Tale, Associate Sound Designer, $4850 total fee
Paramount Theatre Aurora IL, Sound Designer (musical), $4000 total fee
Total income: $39,800
2015:
I accepted a salaried position at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Associate Sound Supervisor $35k-40k range
Ravinia Festival Chicago, Sound Designer & Engineer (concert) $1800
Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Sound Designer (musical) $850 total fee (I was very bad at negotiating this contract and have regretted it ever since. I was badly taken advantage of.)
Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Sound Designer (musical) $1250 total fee
Total income: $44,300
2016:
CST Salary + another Ravinia Concert
Total Income: $40,800
2017:
CST Salary increased to $55k-60k range
Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Sound Designer & Engineer (concert), $1500
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Sound Designer & Engineer (concert), $1800
Ravinia Festival, Sound Designer & Engineer (concert), $1800
Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Sound Designer (musical) $4000
Total Income: $64,250
I've been salaried at $55k-63k since then, though I did take a pay cut when I moved from Chicago to Kansas City.
2021:
SiX The Musical, Production Sound Engineer, NCL Bliss, $550/day
