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.
Perform before live audiences in concerts, recitals, educational presentations, and other social gatherings.
Sing a cappella or with musical accompaniment.
Interpret or modify music, applying knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm, and voice production to individualize presentations and maintain audience interest.
Specialize in playing a specific family of instruments or a particular type of music.
Sing as a soloist or as a member of a vocal group.
Top skills:SpeakingMonitoringActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Musicians and Singers salary by industry
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
21,840 workers
$137,000
Other Services (except Public Administration)
7,770 workers
$145,000
Educational Services
4,450 workers
$79,000
Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,640 workers
$74,000
State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
690 workers
$69,000
Information
360 workers
$123,000
Sectors 44 and 45 – Retail Trade
150 workers
$36,500
Health Care and Social Assistance
120 workers
$76,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
The average base salary for a Musicians and Singers in the United States is $130,000 per year, or about $62.50 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $59,500 and $162,000 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 $86,500 across 41 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.
