Music Directors and Composers Salary
The median music directors and composers salary in the United States is $73,710 per year ($35.44/hour). Salaries range from $39,880 at the entry level to $165,760+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 12,540 music directors and composers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 0.3% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$73,710
per year
Hourly Rate
$35.44
per hour
Employment
12,540
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$39,880
25th percentile
$53,110
Median
$73,710
75th percentile
$104,090
90th percentile
$165,760
Job Growth (2024-2034)
-0.3%
Decline
Annual Openings
4,300
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
+ Less than 5 years experience
Music Directors and Composers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$42K$123K■ No data
Top Paying States
New Jersey
$123K
+67%
California
$93K
+26%
Colorado
$88K
+20%
District of Columbia
$84K
+14%
New York
$83K
+13%
Utah
$83K
+12%
Tennessee
$80K
+8%
Wisconsin
$79K
+7%
Massachusetts
$79K
+7%
Indiana
$77K
+5%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $122,750 | +66.5% |
| California | $93,090 | +26.3% |
| Colorado | $88,460 | +20.0% |
| District of Columbia | $84,040 | +14.0% |
| New York | $82,930 | +12.5% |
| Utah | $82,570 | +12.0% |
| Tennessee | $79,640 | +8.0% |
| Wisconsin | $78,690 | +6.8% |
| Massachusetts | $78,620 | +6.7% |
| Indiana | $77,270 | +4.8% |
Showing 1–10 of 30
Music Directors and Composers Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | $140,230 | +90.2% |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $115,400 | +56.6% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $112,950 | +53.2% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $104,690 | +42.0% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $97,970 | +32.9% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $94,700 | +28.5% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $93,090 | +26.3% |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $84,660 | +14.9% |
| Rochester, NY | $84,130 | +14.1% |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $82,920 | +12.5% |
Showing 1–10 of 52
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A music directors and composers earning $73,710/year would need 809 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 868 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how music directors and composers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Music Directors and Composers salary trend (2011–2024) →