27 Series · SOC 27-2041
Music Directors and Composers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $73,710
- Median / year
- +15.8%
- 2024→2025
- $165,760
- Top 10% earn
- -0.3%
- Growth '24–'34
- 12,540
- Estimated US jobs
Music Directors and Composers earn a median of $73,710 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $73,710, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $39,880 (10th percentile) to $165,760 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 12,540 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is New Jersey ($122,750).
The pay verdict
Music Directors and Composers earn a median of $73,710, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 65% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media, it ranks #13 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 0.3% by 2034.
- $73,710
- Median annual wage
- Top 35%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #13 of 36
- in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- 4.2×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New Jersey at $122,750. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Music Directors and Composers moved from $51,670 in May 2019 to $73,710 in May 2025 (+42.7%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Music Directors and Composers sits +18.2 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Music Directors and Composers (SOC 27-2041) has a national median of $73,710 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $39,880 to $165,760, and the published mean is $90,470. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 12,540 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 30 state or territory areas and 53 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $63,670 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $73,710 in May 2025, a rise of $10,040 (+15.8%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -0.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 4,300 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry and less than 5 years as the typical related-work-experience category. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New Jersey pays the highest state median at $122,750, which is +67% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Syracuse, NY at $140,230. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$73,710
per year
Median Hourly
$35.44/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$90,470
average
Employment
12,540
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Music Directors and Composers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$73,710 Top 35% higher than 65% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 (this entry) | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$73,710 · 65th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 27-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Music Directors and Composers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Public Relations Spe…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.8%, Median annual wage $74750
- Coaches and Scouts: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $47320
- Graphic Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.1%, Median annual wage $62960
- Merchandise Displaye…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $39390
- Producers and Direct…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $90360
- Editors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.6%, Median annual wage $77920
- Interior Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $67190
- Audio and Video Tech…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58100
- Art Directors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.2%, Median annual wage $114850
- Interpreters and Tra…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $60170
- Photographers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.8%, Median annual wage $44660
- Writers and Authors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.6%, Median annual wage $76910
- Technical Writers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.9%, Median annual wage $90390
- Floral Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.9%, Median annual wage $37360
- News Analysts, Repor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.9%, Median annual wage $62200
- Commercial and Indus…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $83910
- Film and Video Editors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $75420
- Camera Operators, Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74990
- Fashion Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2%, Median annual wage $80960
- Broadcast Announcers…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.5%, Median annual wage $47340
- Broadcast Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.8%, Median annual wage $59570
- Special Effects Arti…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.6%, Median annual wage $102030
- Media and Communicat…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.7%, Median annual wage $73620
- Umpires, Referees, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.7%, Median annual wage $40710
- Music Directors and Composers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.3%, Median annual wage $73710
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-0.3%
Declining
Annual Openings
4,300
per year (projected)
Employment Change
-100
47,300 (2024) → 47,200 (2034)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
0.5/100
Danger Index
2.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Music Directors and Composers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
- ▸ Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
- ▸ Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
- ▸ Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
- ▸ Consider such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
- ▸ Determine voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.
- ▸ Experiment with different sounds, and types and pieces of music, using synthesizers and computers as necessary to test and evaluate ideas.
- ▸ Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.
- ▸ Audition and select performers for musical presentations.
- ▸ Plan and schedule rehearsals and performances, and arrange details such as locations, accompanists, and instrumentalists.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Music Directors and Composers pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $49,820 |
| 2016 | $50,110 |
| 2017 | $50,590 |
| 2018 | $49,630 |
| 2019 | $51,670 |
| 2020 | $52,250 |
| 2021 | $49,130 |
| 2022 | $62,940 |
| 2023 | $62,590 |
| 2024 | $63,670 |
| 2025 | $73,710 |
2015 median
$49,820
2025 median
$73,710
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$22,040 (+42.7%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+6.1%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $49,820 | First banked release | 21,540 |
| May 2016 | $50,110 | +0.6% | 18,380 |
| May 2017 | $50,590 | +1.0% | 15,400 |
| May 2018 | $49,630 | -1.9% | 12,160 |
| May 2019 | $51,670 | Classification break | 10,580 |
| May 2020 | $52,250 | +1.1% | 9,200 |
| May 2021 | $49,130 | -6.0% | 9,560 |
| May 2022 | $62,940 | +28.1% | 11,690 |
| May 2023 | $62,590 | -0.6% | 10,770 |
| May 2024 | $63,670 | +1.7% | 12,330 |
| May 2025 | $73,710 | +15.8% | 12,540 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $49,820 in May 2015 to $73,710 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +6.1% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 10,580 in May 2019 to 12,540 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 30 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $122,750 | +67% above national |
| 2 | California | $93,090 | +26% above national |
| 3 | Colorado | $88,460 | +20% above national |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $84,040 | +14% above national |
| 5 | New York | $82,930 | +13% above national |
| 6 | Utah | $82,570 | +12% above national |
| 7 | Tennessee | $79,640 | +8% above national |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $78,690 | +7% above national |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $78,620 | +7% above national |
| 10 | Indiana | $77,270 | +5% above national |
| 11 | Connecticut | $77,070 | +5% above national |
| 12 | Washington | $75,060 | +2% above national |
| 13 | Hawaii | $74,570 | +1% above national |
| 14 | Georgia | $67,100 | 9% below national |
| 15 | Texas | $65,570 | 11% below national |
| 16 | Maryland | $64,300 | 13% below national |
| 17 | North Carolina | $63,380 | 14% below national |
| 18 | Mississippi | $62,240 | 16% below national |
| 19 | Iowa | $61,740 | 16% below national |
| 20 | Missouri | $61,670 | 16% below national |
| 21 | Ohio | $61,380 | 17% below national |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $61,160 | 17% below national |
| 23 | Oregon | $60,800 | 18% below national |
| 24 | Michigan | $59,400 | 19% below national |
| 25 | Virginia | $59,050 | 20% below national |
| 26 | Florida | $57,830 | 22% below national |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $54,250 | 26% below national |
| 28 | Montana | $51,530 | 30% below national |
| 29 | Illinois | $49,270 | 33% below national |
| 30 | Alabama | $42,250 | 43% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 52 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syracuse, NY | $140,230 | +90% above national |
| 2 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $115,400 | +57% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $112,950 | +53% above national |
| 4 | Colorado Springs, CO | $104,690 | +42% above national |
| 5 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $97,970 | +33% above national |
| 6 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $94,700 | +28% above national |
| 7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $93,090 | +26% above national |
| 8 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $84,660 | +15% above national |
| 9 | Rochester, NY | $84,130 | +14% above national |
| 10 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $82,920 | +12% above national |
| 11 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $82,570 | +12% above national |
| 12 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $81,770 | +11% above national |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $79,870 | +8% above national |
| 14 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,760 | +7% above national |
| 15 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $78,760 | +7% above national |
| 16 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $76,700 | +4% above national |
| 17 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $75,030 | +2% above national |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $74,370 | +1% above national |
| 19 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $74,270 | +1% above national |
| 20 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $73,610 | same as national |
| 21 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $71,850 | 3% below national |
| 22 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $71,800 | 3% below national |
| 23 | Lancaster, PA | $71,100 | 4% below national |
| 24 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $69,330 | 6% below national |
| 25 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $67,590 | 8% below national |
| 26 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $66,800 | 9% below national |
| 27 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $65,190 | 12% below national |
| 28 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $64,440 | 13% below national |
| 29 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $64,300 | 13% below national |
| 30 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $64,250 | 13% below national |
| 31 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $63,850 | 13% below national |
| 32 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $63,440 | 14% below national |
| 33 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $63,290 | 14% below national |
| 34 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $61,740 | 16% below national |
| 35 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $61,670 | 16% below national |
| 36 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,670 | 16% below national |
| 37 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $61,160 | 17% below national |
| 38 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $60,500 | 18% below national |
| 39 | Jacksonville, FL | $60,000 | 19% below national |
| 40 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $59,720 | 19% below national |
| 41 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $58,570 | 21% below national |
| 42 | Columbus, OH | $58,490 | 21% below national |
| 43 | Richmond, VA | $57,860 | 22% below national |
| 44 | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,650 | 22% below national |
| 45 | Salem, OR | $56,730 | 23% below national |
| 46 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $55,130 | 25% below national |
| 47 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $52,900 | 28% below national |
| 48 | Akron, OH | $51,530 | 30% below national |
| 49 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $50,530 | 31% below national |
| 50 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $49,150 | 33% below national |
| 51 | Fresno, CA | $46,960 | 36% below national |
| 52 | Binghamton, NY | $40,500 | 45% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 27 (Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Actors
SOC 27-2011
Art Directors
SOC 27-1011
Artists and Related Workers, All Other
SOC 27-1019
Athletes and Sports Competitors
SOC 27-2021
Audio and Video Technicians
SOC 27-4011
Showing 5 of 40 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($73,710 here) and reported employment (12,540 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Music Directors and Composers make? ▼
Where does Music Directors and Composers pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Music Directors and Composers the most? ▼
What education do Music Directors and Composers need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Music Directors and Composers? ▼
Is Music Directors and Composers a good career? ▼
How does Music Directors and Composers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Music Directors and Composers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Music Directors and Composers pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $104,090/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: New Jersey leads at $122,750/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.