I found this on the web:
Levine was top-paid conductor in US 2005/6 with US$3.5m

Kurt Masur, then conductor of the New York Philharmonic, drew a salary of $1.51 million (U.S.).



The following which I thought would be of general interest was taken from the web site of U.S. Department of Labour, Bureau of Labour Statistics http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos095.htm updated Dec 2007

Median hourly earnings of wage-and-salary musicians and singers were $19.73 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.81 and $36.55. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.08, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $57.37. Median hourly earnings were $23.37 in performing arts companies and $13.57 in religious organizations. Annual earnings data for musicians and singers were not available because of the wide variation in the number of hours worked by musicians and singers and the short-term nature of many jobs. It is rare for musicians and singers to have guaranteed employment that exceeds 3 to 6 months.
Median annual earnings of salaried music directors and composers were $39,750 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $23,660 and $60,350. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,210, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $110,850.

The thing to bear in mind is that only a few have full time employment

Most classical musicians interpret the work of composers.
Composers, assuming their agents are hip, make all the money.
This is why the Dark Side always want to have their OWN songs on their records.

Performance royalties are not huge.

Mind you I don`t suppose Vanessa Mae and Nigel Kennedy complain about their appearance money.

Depends if you are doing it for fun fame or fortune.

I am a professional composer without an agent and probably not so hip. I make most of my meagre earnings arranging songs for concerts and writing video game scores and occasional record sales (never enough after the download revolution).
Are you trying to say that composers make all the money in this business?
Maybe a tiny percentage right at the very top do but their numbers pale in comparison to the myriad of rank and file like myself.
The salaries of Vanessa Mae and Nigel Kennedy etc. are not representative of the average musician and we would do well to keep in mind the back desk of the violas in the Mainz Chamber Orchestra or the 3rd trumpet in say the BBC Welsh SO when we talk about 'real' musicians and their salaries.
FC

That is what I said in my last post, at those pay rates it is not the best job in the world

Back in the seventies my music teacher said - You might not get rich in the music business but there is a chance you'll be happy!
Confucious says- find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life!

ANd yo might try getting an agent. Or maybe doing library work as well?

A long term project but one that can pay of well in the long run. I have several chums who make a very comfortable living JUST from library stuff.

And arranging as you already know does not pay a whole lot.

Ah ha but what pays the bills? in the real world you need MONEY but as you get older it can become less important, for various reasons

Nobody likes having to explain confucious becuase it leaves a stigma of stupidity in various places - but.
The Idea is you get ajob which pays you money but you don't see it as 'work' because you love it.
Clear now, Grasshopper?

My My Mr Bunny you are a tad touchy eh, Yes, I understood it it was not really all that taxing on the mind, it is commonly referred to as “a labour of love” Clear now Brer Rabbit

No. A labour of love is something you don't get paid for but you do it because you love it. You get paid for doing music as a pro but you don't see it as work because you love it so much!
Those feindish Chinese proverbs!

Not quite right Bunny, A labour of love is also something that pays so little that you have to be an idiot,or enjoy doing it so much that payment is irrelevant