SOC 272041

Music Directors and Composers

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.

National Median

$63,670

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$63,670

Entry Level (10th pct)

$34,990

Experienced (90th pct)

$157,010

Total Employed

12,330

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience LevelEstimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience$34,990 - $47,330
Mid Career2-8 years experience$47,330 - $96,590
Senior / Expert8+ years experience$96,590 - $157,010

Highest Paying Locations for Music Directors and Composers

Music Directors and Composers Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan AreaMedian SalaryEmployed
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$114,29040
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA$104,00050
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$97,9801,050
Trenton-Princeton, NJ$96,43050
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA$94,02030
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$92,930480
Connecticut$91,810150
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$91,44040
Colorado Springs, CO$86,74030
Oklahoma City, OK$82,49050
New York$80,2301,610
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$78,300250
Chattanooga, TN-GA$78,07030
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$78,01080
Utah$78,010130
Washington$77,840390
Urban Honolulu, HI$77,440100
Hawaii$77,440140
Madison, WI$76,81050
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$75,230180
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$74,910200
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$74,78050
California$74,7602,410
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$73,780100
Wisconsin$73,580150
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$73,370110
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$73,230280
Massachusetts$72,760260
Medford, OR$72,08030
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY$72,030100
Indiana$71,640250
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$71,4201,160
Syracuse, NY$70,30090
Pittsburgh, PA$69,33070
Colorado$69,160110
Oklahoma$66,65090
Rochester, NY$66,290230
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$64,200170
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$64,04060
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$62,67040
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$62,400250
Oregon$62,400470
Cleveland, OH$62,06080
Minnesota$61,83090
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$61,83060
North Carolina$61,780200
Georgia$61,270N/A
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$61,270N/A
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$60,64050
Ohio$60,470380

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Music Directors and Composers?
The national median annual salary for Music Directors and Composers is $63,670, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.
Where do Music Directors and Composerss earn the most?
The highest-paying metro area for Music Directors and Composerss is Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT, with a median salary of $114,290.
How much can an experienced Music Directors and Composers make?
Top-earning Music Directors and Composerss (90th percentile) make $157,010 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.