Yes. Cantors are paid professionals who serve as clergy in Jewish communities. The cantor, or hazzan, is one of the two traditional clergy roles in a synagogue, alongside the rabbi.
How cantors are paid
Pay varies a lot. It depends on the size and budget of the congregation, the region, the cantor’s experience, and how many duties come with the job. When a congregation hires a cantor, salary and benefits are usually negotiated.
There are several kinds of positions:
- Full-time cantor in a larger congregation, usually with a salary and benefits
- Part-time cantor for a smaller congregation, paid per service or on a part-time salary
- High Holiday cantor, hired just for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These positions are very common, and many congregations look for them every year.
- Cantor and spiritual leader of a small congregation without a rabbi, doing the full work of clergy
- Independent cantor who officiates weddings, funerals and b’nai mitzvah and tutors students, paid per event
Is there demand?
Fewer cantors are being trained by the mainstream seminaries, and many synagogue budgets are tight, so full-time cantorial jobs are fewer than they once were. At the same time, many communities still need someone who can lead the High Holidays, Shabbat and lifecycle events beautifully, and part-time and High Holiday positions are often hard to fill. A cantor who can also teach, counsel and officiate is more valuable to a community, which is why JSLI trains cantors in lifecycle and pastoral care as well as nusach.
Learn more on the Cantorial School page or read Are Cantors Ordained?