What Does it Take to Be a Music Composer or Arranger?

Career Description Write and transcribe musical scores.

List of Music Composer or Arranger Job Duties

• Explore and develop musical ideas based on sources such as imagination or sounds in the environment.
• Write musical scores for orchestras, bands, choral groups, or individual instrumentalists or vocalists, using knowledge of music theory and of instrumental and vocal capabilities.
• Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.
• Study original pieces of music to become familiar with them prior to making any changes.
• Transpose music from one voice or instrument to another to accommodate particular musicians.
• Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.

Skills Needed to be a Music Composer or Arranger

Music Composers and Arrangers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Copyist
• Digital Composer
• Music Writer
• Music Producer
• Score Composer

Is There Job Demand for Music Composers and Arrangers?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 74,800 jobs in the United States for Music Directors and Composers.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.7% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,300 new jobs for Music Composers and Arrangers by 2026. There will be an estimated 7,700 positions for Music Composer or Arranger per year.

The states with the most job growth for Music Directors and Composers are Florida, New York, and Texas.

Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, Vermont, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Music Composer or Arranger Salary

The typical yearly salary for Music Directors and Composers is somewhere between $21,640 and $112,820. A Music Composer or Arranger median salary is $49,630.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
Minnesota	$88,570
Connecticut	$77,550
District of Columbia	$77,220
Alabama	$75,050
Georgia	$73,470
New Jersey	$73,320
Florida	$72,420
Washington	$71,980
Wisconsin	$71,350
Indiana	$66,460
New York	$66,120
California	$64,600
Rhode Island	$64,200
Texas	$61,210
Missouri	$60,590
Maryland	$58,570
Arizona	$57,810
Utah	$57,780
Massachusetts	$56,200
Vermont	$56,130
Kansas	$55,290
South Carolina	$53,700
Louisiana	$53,600
Mississippi	$53,000
Iowa	$52,430
Hawaii	$51,230
Michigan	$51,180
Colorado	$50,800
Kentucky	$49,610
North Carolina	$48,920
New Mexico	$48,440
Nebraska	$46,650
Pennsylvania	$46,010
Oregon	$46,000
Ohio	$44,920
Illinois	$40,220
Oklahoma	$38,530
Montana	$29,100

How to Become a Music Composer or Arranger

Learn what Music Composer or Arranger education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Music Composer or Arranger?

Where Music Composers and Arrangers Work

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons