SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical artists or groups, such as orchestras, bands, choirs, and glee clubs; or create original works of music.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 27-2041.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $39,880 | $3,323 | $767 | $19.17 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $53,110 | $4,426 | $1,021 | $25.53 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $73,710 | $6,142 | $1,418 | $35.44 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $104,090 | $8,674 | $2,002 | $50.04 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $165,760 | $13,813 | $3,188 | $79.69 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Music Directors and Composers is $73,710, which is 45% higher. Among the 41 occupations of the field Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media, it ranks number 14 by median pay. With 12,540 jobs, it makes up about 0.8 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($90,470) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Music Directors and Composers pay by state
The highest median pay was in New Jersey ($122,750), California ($93,090) and Colorado ($88,460). The lowest was in Alabama ($42,250), Illinois ($49,270) and Montana ($51,530). The most jobs were in California (2,510), New York (2,370) and Pennsylvania (580). The occupation is most concentrated in Rhode Island, where its share of all jobs is 3.6 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 210 | $122,750 | $133,540 | $59.02 |
| California | 2,510 | $93,090 | $108,530 | $44.76 |
| Colorado | 160 | $88,460 | $92,810 | $42.53 |
| District of Columbia | 140 | $84,040 | $97,530 | $40.41 |
| New York | 2,370 | $82,930 | $105,520 | $39.87 |
| Utah | 150 | $82,570 | $83,970 | $39.70 |
| Tennessee | 400 | $79,640 | $70,240 | $38.29 |
| Wisconsin | 200 | $78,690 | $90,360 | $37.83 |
| Massachusetts | 340 | $78,620 | $93,170 | $37.80 |
| Indiana | 200 | $77,270 | $91,240 | $37.15 |
| Connecticut | 120 | $77,070 | $105,300 | $37.06 |
| Washington | 260 | $75,060 | $87,600 | $36.09 |
| Hawaii | 90 | $74,570 | $87,060 | $35.85 |
| Georgia | not published | $67,100 | $74,460 | $32.26 |
| Texas | 480 | $65,570 | $85,750 | $31.53 |
| Maryland | 160 | $64,300 | $80,120 | $30.91 |
| North Carolina | 200 | $63,380 | $84,340 | $30.47 |
| Mississippi | 40 | $62,240 | $63,380 | $29.92 |
| Iowa | 120 | $61,740 | $66,750 | $29.68 |
| Missouri | 60 | $61,670 | $72,810 | $29.65 |
| Ohio | 440 | $61,380 | $73,880 | $29.51 |
| Pennsylvania | 580 | $61,160 | $74,570 | $29.41 |
| Oregon | 500 | $60,800 | $69,590 | $29.23 |
| Michigan | 310 | $59,400 | $68,810 | $28.56 |
| Virginia | 370 | $59,050 | $79,160 | $28.39 |
| Florida | 570 | $57,830 | $64,800 | $27.81 |
| Oklahoma | 60 | $54,250 | $88,420 | $26.08 |
| Montana | 110 | $51,530 | $56,230 | $24.77 |
| Illinois | not published | $49,270 | $60,360 | $23.69 |
| Alabama | 70 | $42,250 | $51,980 | $20.31 |
| Alaska | 60 | not published | not published | not published |
| Minnesota | 140 | not published | not published | not published |
| Rhode Island | 150 | not published | not published | not published |
| Vermont | 30 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Set and Exhibit Designers$75,240 a year
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film$74,990 a year
- Public Relations Specialists$74,750 a year
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other$73,620 a year
- Sound Engineering Technicians$73,130 a year
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners$72,420 a year
Common questions
How much do Music Directors and Composers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $73,710 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $39,880 and the highest-paid 10% more than $165,760.
How many people work as Music Directors and Composers?
About 12,540 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.
More in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Pay converter