How Much Do DJs Make? Everything You Need To Know

The art of DJing is a hugely popular hobby and a potentially lucrative career, but earnings from DJing can vary considerably based on multiple factors.

The income range is broad, whether you’re focused on electronic dance music as a club DJ or considering setting up a mobile DJ service.

This article breaks down what you can expect to earn as a DJ in each field and DJ community so you can expand your DJ career and transform your hobby into a full-time job.

How Much Do DJs Make?

DJs’ earnings vary widely, and various factors affect the fees they charge and the total amount they can earn for each gig.

To help break down this pricing range for professional DJs in various fields, we’ve covered both the types of DJs and a selection of other pertinent factors.

These include the level of experience a given DJ brings to the table and other considerations relating to location, equipment, and other services offered.

Learn more about a ZIPDJ membership.

Types Of DJs

One of the main factors to consider when analyzing DJ prices is the type of DJ gigs you’re performing, which will significantly impact your potential income range.

Let’s break down the typical earning range for the various DJ types, from playing music at parties for all your friends to hitting the main stage at festivals.

House Parties & Private Events

Earning range: $0 – $5000 per hour

Most DJs start playing music at house parties and other local events for free, cutting their teeth on the techniques and etiquette before launching their DJ career.

It’s a great way to learn the ropes and manage requests, and finding out how to DJ a house party is a fun process with a shallow learning curve.

You can get set up for a house party without investing in high-end equipment, simply using your bedroom setup to deliver your DJ set.

With that said, if you’re a professional DJ, you can perform a DJ set at a house party or private events and earn considerable amounts of money for your time.

Wedding DJs

Earning range: $50 – $500 per hour

Wedding DJs are in constant demand, particularly during the spring and summer months when most people choose to tie the knot.

While the amount of money DJs in this field can make is generally capped at an hourly rate of $500, depending on the wedding DJ services, the work is typically consistent.

You’ll need to dress smartly, given the formal nature of weddings, and communicate with the guests in a pleasant and professional manner.

This fee can be increased through additional services in addition to DJing, with many wedding DJs offering MCing, photo booths, and other features.

Mobile DJs

Earning range: $100 – $300 per hour

Like wedding DJs, mobile DJs can consistently earn work in their local area, particularly when they’ve forged connections with venue owners.

Getting set up for mobile DJing can be more expensive than other types of DJing, but once the initial investment has been made, it’s a viable long-term career.

In addition to DJ equipment, mobile DJing requires microphones, DJ lighting, smoke machines, and other gear as requested by clients.

You’ll often see a mobile DJ doing weddings in addition to standard mobile DJing gigs since the equipment and music libraries used have plenty of crossover for clients.

Read more: Find out how to become a corporate event DJ.

Radio DJs

Earning range: $20 – $100 per hour

Another way to play music and earn money is to work as a radio DJ, which offers endless possibilities for musical genres and guest interaction.

Learning how to become a radio DJ can mean getting specific broadcasting qualifications, particularly if you’re hoping to land a spot on a popular radio station.

You can also set up as an online radio DJ, but you’ll need to consider aspects such as paying royalties or becoming licensed for the music you play.

Alternatively, many DJs work on internet channels such as Twitch, which deals with the major music business labels, including Sony, Universal, and Warner.

Restaurant & Bar DJs

Earning range: $10 – $50 per hour

Another great way for entry-level DJs to start earning money and getting noticed in the local community is to pick up paying gigs at restaurants and bars.

While these venues don’t pay huge sums of cash, DJs get to have their music heard, and agents from many venues, such as clubs, will frequent these establishments.

This will also give you a chance to learn how to deal with rowdy customers and interact with staff, experiences that carry across to club DJs.

It’s a vibrant job market with plenty of venues in most major towns and cities to apply for, and many successful DJs get their first DJ residency in bars before moving to bigger things.

Festival & Club DJs

Earning range: $30 – $10,000 per hour

For many DJs, the ultimate goal is to become club DJs, where they can earn more money and have the luxury of controlling the music they perform.

You don’t have to be among the highest-paid DJs like Calvin Harris to land a spot in a nightclub, with many entry-level positions for warm-up sets and off-peak nights.

If the venue’s owner thinks you’re playing good music, you can become a successful DJ by playing in the best slots on peak evenings and consistently maintaining a residency.

Some club DJs even deal with requests from clientele by charging a fee for making requests of overplayed songs, charging up to $500 for violations.

DJ Earnings & Level Of Experience

We’ve outlined some of the average salary ranges you can expect based on various types of DJing, from club DJs to other DJs in the mobile and wedding industries.

Another core factor that impacts your ability to make money as a DJ is experience, which influences the earnings ranges we’ve detailed above.

Here’s a brief overview exploring how beginner, intermediate, and professional DJs get paid in comparison to one another:

Beginner

Earning range: $0 – $100 per hour

As you might expect, beginner DJs sit at the low end of the earnings spectrum, often working for free to gain experience before charging for their services.

House party DJs often do it simply because they love music and want to share their taste with friends, using these skills to pick up gigs at bars or smaller clubs.

This path through the DJ industry allows beginner DJs to get a feel for the ropes, learn how to deal with venues, manage the crowd, and refine their approach to set construction.

Beginner DJs might not be accustomed to the high-end equipment often used in major venues by famous DJs, with a focus on budget-friendly gear and other tools.

Explore ZIPDJ’s competitive pricing.

Intermediate

Earning range: $20 – $200 per hour

Intermediate-level DJs are those with an established track record performing gigs for a fee, typically in clubs or smaller bars or by working as mobile DJs.

At this stage of their career, they have built up a comprehensive archive of classic and new music to mix and mastered some of the advanced mixing techniques.

They’re familiar with technology such as stem separation, can adequately integrate techniques such as harmonic mixing, and are well on their way to becoming accomplished professionals.

Intermediate DJs have often reached the stage where they can diversify their income to include paid gigs while still working full-time jobs during the week.

Professional

Earning range: $50 – $10,000 per hour

Becoming a professional DJ means you’ve reached the point in your career when you don’t have to work another job and can dedicate your time to playing gigs.

Once you’ve reached the stage of the top DJs, you can earn a high income from your work and are potentially on the right path to becoming a famous DJ.

At this stage, your mixing skills will be exemplary, and you may know additional scratch DJ techniques or other skills common among the highest-paid DJs.

Many professionals also work as music producers, contracted to a record label through which they release original works and remixes for other artists.

Explore ZIPDJ’s glowing member testimonials.

Other Factors Influencing How Much DJs Make

Several additional factors must be considered when determining how much money you can earn and setting a DJ rate that best suits your situation.

These factors should be approached with the other considerations we’ve discussed above in mind, such as the type of gigs you’re playing and your experience levels.

Let’s examine these considerations in more detail to help you develop the best career path and become a successful DJ.

Location & Travel

The location of a given venue relative to the DJ’s home is a key factor in setting gig prices, involving fuel costs and other expenses.

Other factors, such as how much equipment the DJ needs to take to the gig and the number of people in attendance, can also influence the cost of travel.

International DJs who perform at festivals worldwide have considerable costs for flights and accommodation that are factored into their pricing.

The booking agent or venue will include these expenses in their fees for a particular set and often partner with local hotels for ongoing residencies.

Equipment Provided

The role of equipment in DJing varies depending on the type of gigs being performed, the style of DJing, and any other entertainment being provided.

While club DJs typically work with digital files and don’t need to take multiple bags of vinyl records, other types of DJs will have lights, equipment, and other gear to bring.

This is particularly true of mobile and wedding DJs, who bring DJ controllers, speakers, lighting rigs, and other accessories venues don’t provide.

If you’re DJing in this field, you should always include complete equipment lists in your DJ proposal template when pitching your services to clients.

You should also pay attention to maintaining and cleaning your DJ gear to ensure it functions correctly and isn’t damaged during a set.

Learn more: Discover the best DJ controllers you can buy.

Agency Representation

DJs who have an agent representing their careers can also command higher fees for their gigs than up-and-coming DJs just starting out.

There are many excellent DJ booking agencies throughout the United States and beyond who can help DJs get the best gigs for their talent.

These agencies can push your proposals to the best venues and connect you with a series of events, ranging from club gigs to annual festivals.

A booking agent can also help DJs book private parties and corporate events, both of which have great potential for lucrative earnings.

If you don’t have a booking agent and want to get signed up for their services, you can send a DJ bio explaining why you believe you should be on their books.

Additional Services

Lastly, some DJs offer a selection of additional services that complement their DJing performances and can increase the prices for bookings.

There are many ways to stay relevant as a DJ, and some include visual elements such as AI lighting or video displays to enhance the audience’s experience.

Artificial intelligence plays a role in DJing in various ways, but other traditional services, such as providing an MC, can also be made available for clients.

Wedding DJs often provide photo booth services requiring additional management, or work with clients in advance to assemble playlists for the event.

Other games and entertainment for children can also be incorporated into wedding services, going above and beyond simply playing music for the guests.

Sign up for a ZIPDJ subscription today.

Summary

With DJ earnings varying depending on the event type, your experience level, and a host of other considerations, there’s lots of scope for growing your income.

By following our guide, you can effectively work with promoters and venues to deliver DJ gigs that offer the best income for your skills.

As your skill level, experience, and reputation grow over time, you can refine your resume and pitch your services to earn higher fees for upcoming gigs.