SOC 27-2041 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Music Directors and Composers wages by metro
National median annual wage
$73,710
- 10th percentile
- $39,880
- 25th percentile
- $53,110
- Median
- $73,710
- 75th percentile
- $104,090
- 90th percentile
- $165,760
- Mean
- $90,470
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.
National employment in May 2025: 12,540.
That median is 44.6% higher than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.
The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.
Highest published medians
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | 120 | $49,630 | $140,230 | $221,140 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 30 | $65,450 | $115,400 | $198,950 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 320 | $57,190 | $112,950 | $314,960 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 40 | $56,870 | $104,690 | $157,220 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,520 | $56,890 | $97,970 | $215,470 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 110 | $52,150 | $94,700 | $156,540 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,280 | $58,540 | $93,090 | $158,390 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 310 | $18,520 | $84,660 | $117,820 |
| Rochester, NY | 180 | $43,040 | $84,130 | $161,710 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | Not available | $74,310 | $82,920 | $405,060 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 100 | $81,510 | $82,570 | $82,570 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 90 | $49,200 | $81,770 | $175,610 |
| Madison, WI | 70 | $43,630 | $79,870 | $112,390 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 260 | $51,120 | $78,760 | $140,710 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 320 | $42,910 | $78,760 | $144,110 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 130 | $46,190 | $76,700 | $164,070 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 190 | $51,870 | $75,030 | $161,370 |
| Cleveland, OH | 100 | $48,500 | $74,370 | $157,960 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 170 | $42,960 | $74,270 | $302,530 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | 40 | $35,350 | $73,610 | $109,380 |
Where employment is largest
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,520 | $56,890 | $97,970 | $215,470 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,280 | $58,540 | $93,090 | $158,390 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 320 | $57,190 | $112,950 | $314,960 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 320 | $42,910 | $78,760 | $144,110 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 310 | $18,520 | $84,660 | $117,820 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 260 | $51,120 | $78,760 | $140,710 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 250 | $37,350 | $61,160 | $106,790 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 190 | $51,870 | $75,030 | $161,370 |
| Rochester, NY | 180 | $43,040 | $84,130 | $161,710 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 170 | $42,960 | $74,270 | $302,530 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 160 | $38,040 | $66,800 | $91,420 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 150 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 150 | $40,360 | $64,250 | $283,460 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 140 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 130 | $46,190 | $76,700 | $164,070 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 130 | $28,160 | $60,500 | $103,670 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 130 | $37,850 | $49,150 | $77,580 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 120 | $36,700 | $52,900 | $91,090 |
| Syracuse, NY | 120 | $49,630 | $140,230 | $221,140 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 110 | $48,450 | $64,300 | $115,910 |
States and territories
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 210 | $67,690 | $122,750 | $205,740 |
| California | 2,510 | $48,600 | $93,090 | $175,670 |
| Colorado | 160 | $49,170 | $88,460 | $158,760 |
| District of Columbia | 140 | $39,310 | $84,040 | $159,250 |
| New York | 2,370 | $46,640 | $82,930 | $199,430 |
| Utah | 150 | $65,110 | $82,570 | $86,410 |
| Tennessee | 400 | $18,520 | $79,640 | $117,820 |
| Wisconsin | 200 | $43,630 | $78,690 | $177,040 |
| Massachusetts | 340 | $51,120 | $78,620 | $150,380 |
| Indiana | 200 | $47,480 | $77,270 | $175,610 |
| Connecticut | 120 | $46,430 | $77,070 | $207,250 |
| Washington | 260 | $51,230 | $75,060 | $161,370 |
| Hawaii | 90 | $53,790 | $74,570 | $116,390 |
| Georgia | Not available | $19,900 | $67,100 | $123,530 |
| Texas | 480 | $27,970 | $65,570 | $130,290 |
| Maryland | 160 | $48,450 | $64,300 | $124,790 |
| North Carolina | 200 | $38,480 | $63,380 | $190,280 |
| Mississippi | 40 | $32,700 | $62,240 | $87,460 |
| Iowa | 120 | $28,500 | $61,740 | $100,360 |
| Missouri | 60 | $44,990 | $61,670 | $113,670 |
| Ohio | 440 | $40,350 | $61,380 | $121,270 |
| Pennsylvania | 580 | $36,540 | $61,160 | $109,380 |
| Oregon | 500 | $40,340 | $60,800 | $115,740 |
| Michigan | 310 | $36,700 | $59,400 | $125,090 |
| Virginia | 370 | $42,910 | $59,050 | $130,980 |
| Florida | 570 | $36,350 | $57,830 | $93,510 |
| Oklahoma | 60 | $29,540 | $54,250 | $167,740 |
| Montana | 110 | $44,230 | $51,530 | $76,680 |
| Illinois | Not available | $31,930 | $49,270 | $104,000 |
| Alabama | 70 | $27,850 | $42,250 | $62,700 |
| Alaska | 60 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Minnesota | 140 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Rhode Island | 150 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Vermont | 30 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
Other arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
- Public Relations Specialists
- Coaches and Scouts
- Graphic Designers
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
- Producers and Directors
- Editors
- Interior Designers
- Audio and Video Technicians
Questions this page answers
What is the national median wage for Music Directors and Composers?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Music Directors and Composers is $73,710. Employment is 12,540.
How does Music Directors and Composers pay compare with all occupations?
The national median for Music Directors and Composers is 44.6% higher than the all-occupations median of $50,980.
Which metro has the highest published median for Music Directors and Composers?
Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, Syracuse, NY is highest on this page's list at $140,230.