Music Directors and Composers Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$63,670
↑ 34.3% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Music Directors and Composers — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Music Directors and Composers — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 34.3% since 2011 ($47,410 → $63,670)
🏆Peak year: 2024 at $63,670
🦠COVID impact: Salary remained relatively stable (+1.1%) through the 2020 pandemic year.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately -9%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $63,670 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $62,590 | -0.6% |
| 2022 | $62,940 | +28.1% |
| 2021 | $49,130 | -6.0% |
| 2020 | $52,250 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | $51,670 | +4.1% |
| 2018 | $49,630 | -1.9% |
| 2017 | $50,590 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | $50,110 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | $49,820 | +3.4% |
| 2014 | $48,180 | -0.3% |
| 2013 | $48,330 | +2.1% |
| 2012 | $47,350 | -0.1% |
| 2011 | $47,410 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.