In Chicago in 2025, the short answer is $450-$800, with most professional harpists clustered in the $500-$600 range, but it can seem much more confusing than that. Read on if you would like the more complete break down of these prices!
First, it will depend on what type of job you are trying to hire for. If you are looking for background music for a specific time period, the harpists you contact will likely have a set fee for either a 1 or 2 hour time period (generally called a “minimum”), and an additional fee per hour or half hour if you need more music. You will find that the first time period (the minimum) is the highest priced, by far. This is because it covers the cost and effort of getting the harp to your venue. You may find that there are additional fees if parking isn’t available, if you need the harpist to learn new music for your event, or if there is some aspect to the venue that makes it particularly difficult to bring a harp.
If you are shopping for a wedding ceremony, you will likely find a flat fee, with possible additional fees for parking or new music, and with add on hourly options for reception music. The flat fee for a wedding ceremony will be in the same $450-$800 range as background music, but oddly will not be based as much on time played. So, if you’re planning a full Catholic Mass that may run over an hour, you will likely pay the same price as someone who is planning a 10 minute civil ceremony in a park. Seems strange, I know, but it is because planning wedding music with someone ends up being about the same amount of work for a long ceremony as it does for a short ceremony, and the harp moving logistics would be similar, too. If a couple is truly going to have the simplest of ceremonies, I will sometimes fold it into a background music quote that just happens to contain a wedding processional and short ceremony, so perhaps other harpists do this as well?
Of course, price is a very important component of finding the right harpist, but playing style is equally, if not more important. Any harpist you are considering should have ample playing samples online. If possible, listen to several different harpists, and make sure you love what you’re hearing!
Regarding My Specific Fees
My pricing is transparent, so you can visit either of my websites to see it (currently, I have a $500 minimum for 2 hours of music, and a wedding ceremony is $550). On my wedding website, fees are the first entry under FAQ's, in a drop down format.
On my general site, the price list is near the top, under the picture of the Art Institute lion.
