Average Salary for Music Directors and Composers
SOC 27-2041 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Music Directors and Composers in the United States is $63,670 ($30.61/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $34,990 at the 10th percentile to $157,010 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 12,330 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 32.2% since 2014.
Median Annual
$63,670
Mean Annual
$84,230
10th Pct
$34,990
75th Pct
$96,590
Employment
12,330
Salary Distribution
$35k
10th
$47k
25th
$64k
Median
$97k
75th
$157k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $114,290 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $104,000 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $97,980 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $96,430 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $94,020 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $92,930 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $91,440 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $86,740 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $82,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,300 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $78,070 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $78,010 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $77,440 |
| Madison, WI | $76,810 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $75,230 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $91,810 |
| New York | $80,230 |
| Utah | $78,010 |
| Washington | $77,840 |
| Hawaii | $77,440 |
| California | $74,760 |
| Wisconsin | $73,580 |
| Massachusetts | $72,760 |
| Indiana | $71,640 |
| Colorado | $69,160 |
| Oklahoma | $66,650 |
| Oregon | $62,400 |
| Minnesota | $61,830 |
| North Carolina | $61,780 |
| Georgia | $61,270 |
| Ohio | $60,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,410 |
| Mississippi | $60,250 |
| Missouri | $58,640 |
| Maryland | $57,740 |
| Florida | $57,350 |
| Iowa | $56,720 |
| Alaska | $55,810 |
| Texas | $51,380 |
| South Carolina | $49,890 |
| Virginia | $49,670 |
| Montana | $48,530 |
| Illinois | $46,310 |
| Michigan | $42,030 |
| Kentucky | $41,870 |
| South Dakota | $36,990 |
| Alabama | $32,370 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Music Directors and Composers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $96,590 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $96,590 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $92,930 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $75,860 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $75,860 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $75,040 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $74,970 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $72,620 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $72,530 |
| Radio Broadcasting Stations | $69,340 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $68,590 |
| Junior Colleges | $64,370 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $64,290 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $64,180 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations | $63,350 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $60,820 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $60,510 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $60,510 |
| Religious Organizations | $59,570 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $59,020 |
| Sound Recording Industries | $58,850 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $58,350 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | $57,990 |
| Educational Services | $56,850 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $56,560 |
| Educational Services | $56,140 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $55,810 |
| Social Assistance | $55,810 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $51,380 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $63,670 |
| 2023 | $62,590 |
| 2022 | $62,940 |
| 2021 | $49,130 |
| 2020 | $52,250 |
| 2019 | $51,670 |
| 2018 | $49,630 |
| 2017 | $50,590 |
| 2016 | $50,110 |
| 2015 | $49,820 |
| 2014 | $48,180 |