Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
Typical entry preparation: Master's Degree and 2 to 5 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
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.
Top skills:Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingWriting
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Music Directors and Composers pay by experience level
Entry level$41,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$55,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$76,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$107,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$171,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-0.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
4,300
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Music Directors and Composers salary by industry
Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries
5,350 workers
$96,000
Performing Arts Companies
4,690 workers
$98,000
Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
3,880 workers
$91,000
Religious Organizations
3,760 workers
$91,500
Educational Services
2,110 workers
$78,500
Educational Services, Privately Owned
1,620 workers
$80,500
Elementary and Secondary Schools
790 workers
$72,500
Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries
770 workers
$114,500
Other Schools and Instruction
670 workers
$84,000
Sound Recording Industries
630 workers
$115,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Who works in this role
About 58,000 people held this occupation in the United States in 2025.
Women
28.5%
White
76.6%
Black or African American
16.6%
Asian
6.5%
Hispanic or Latino
8.5%
Race categories and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity overlap, so shares can sum to more than 100 percent. Figures describe this occupation across the national workforce, not any single employer. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Annual Averages, Table 11, 2025.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $52,250 to $73,710.
+41.1% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$41,500
Early career25th percentile
$55,000
Median50th percentile
$76,500
Experienced75th percentile
$107,500
Top earners90th percentile
$171,500
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingWriting
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$93,500
2027$97,000
2028$100,000
2029$103,500
2030$107,500
2031$111,000
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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How much does a Music Directors and Composers make?
The median market pay for a Music Directors and Composers in the United States is about $93,500 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Music Directors and Composers?
Most Music Directors and Composers pay falls between about $55,000 (25th percentile) and $107,500 (75th percentile), with top earners above $171,500.
What does a Music Directors and Composers do?
Core responsibilities include: use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects; and direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
Is pay for Music Directors and Composers roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $52,250 in 2020 to $73,710 in 2025, a change of +41.1% in nominal dollars.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Music Directors and Composers make?
The average base salary for a Music Directors and Composers in the United States is $93,500 per year, or about $44.95 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $55,000 and $107,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media roles?
The Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family averages $88,500 across 45 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Music Directors and Composers pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
