Music Directors and Composers salary in the U.S.
Music Directors and Composers in the U.S. earn a median of $73,710 a year ($35.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,760 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $90,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for music directors and composers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,880 | $19.17 |
| 25th percentile | $53,110 | $25.53 |
| Median | $73,710 | $35.44 |
| 75th percentile | $104,090 | $50.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,760 | $79.69 |
| Average (mean) | $90,470 | $43.50 |
Half of music directors and composers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,142.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,071.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,835 |
| Weekly | $1,417.50 |
| Hourly | $35.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Music Directors and Composers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $122,750 | 210 |
| California | $93,090 | 2,510 |
| Colorado | $88,460 | 160 |
| District of Columbia | $84,040 | 140 |
| New York | $82,930 | 2,370 |
| Utah | $82,570 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $79,640 | 400 |
| Wisconsin | $78,690 | 200 |
| Massachusetts | $78,620 | 340 |
| Indiana | $77,270 | 200 |
| Connecticut | $77,070 | 120 |
| Washington | $75,060 | 260 |
| Hawaii | $74,570 | 90 |
| Georgia | $67,100 | n/a |
| Texas | $65,570 | 480 |
| Maryland | $64,300 | 160 |
| North Carolina | $63,380 | 200 |
| Mississippi | $62,240 | 40 |
| Iowa | $61,740 | 120 |
| Missouri | $61,670 | 60 |
| Ohio | $61,380 | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,160 | 580 |
| Oregon | $60,800 | 500 |
| Michigan | $59,400 | 310 |
| Virginia | $59,050 | 370 |
| Florida | $57,830 | 570 |
| Oklahoma | $54,250 | 60 |
| Montana | $51,530 | 110 |
| Illinois | $49,270 | n/a |
| Alabama | $42,250 | 70 |
Best-paying metro areas for music directors and composers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | $140,230 | 120 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $115,400 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $112,950 | 320 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $104,690 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $97,970 | 1,520 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $94,700 | 110 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $93,090 | 1,280 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $84,660 | 310 |
| Rochester, NY | $84,130 | 180 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $82,920 | n/a |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $82,570 | 100 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $81,770 | 90 |
| Madison, WI | $79,870 | 70 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,760 | 260 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $78,760 | 320 |
Metro areas with the most music directors and composers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,520 | $97,970 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,280 | $93,090 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 320 | $112,950 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 320 | $78,760 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 310 | $84,660 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 260 | $78,760 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 250 | $61,160 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 190 | $75,030 |
| Rochester, NY | 180 | $84,130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 170 | $74,270 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 160 | $66,800 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 150 | $64,250 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 130 | $76,700 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 130 | $60,500 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 130 | $49,150 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Actor | — | $29.05 |
| Musicians and Singers | — | $47.80 |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | — | $18.82 |
| Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | $40,710 | — |
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | $66,710 | — |
| Dancer | — | $24.80 |
| Disc Jockeys, Except Radio | — | $21.61 |
| Choreographer | $55,310 | $26.59 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-2041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a music directors and composers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for music directors and composers in the U.S. is $73,710 a year, or $35.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid music directors and composers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of music directors and composers in the U.S. earn at least $165,760 a year. The top 25% earn $104,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for music directors and composers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,880 a year, and a quarter of music directors and composers earn $53,110 or less.
How many music directors and composers work in the U.S.?
About 12,540 music directors and composers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.