National Average Pay

• Country singers earn between $20,000 to $53,000 a year, according to PayScale. Bonuses range from $275 to $2,750 a year. Profit sharing can add as much as $10,000 a year to that number, and commission can also add $10,000 annually, as of 2010. Nearly 75 percent of musicians are male, and 73 percent don't receive health benefits.
  
  

What are the Stars Making?

• In 2009, according to Forbes, Toby Keith earned $48 million, making him the top earner for that year. The country band Rascal Flatts raked in $40 million. Tim McGraw earned $23 million, and Brooks and Dunn pulled in a cool $20 million. Faith Hill and Keith Urban tied at $12 million a piece.
  
  

Work Environment

• Most country singers, and musicians in general, work on the evenings and weekends, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also spend time during the day writing music and rehearsing. Some singers travel extensively to perform at concerts. Many perform outdoors for festivals, parades and concerts, while others primarily work the nightclub circuit.
  
  

Job Outlook

• Jobs for musicians in general were predicted to grow by 8 percent from 2008 to 2018, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The competition is expected to be fierce, however. Talented musicians who can play a variety of instruments are predicted to have the greatest chance of succeeding in the industry.