Music Directors and Composers: Career Profile
Conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical artists or groups, such as orchestras, bands, choirs, and glee clubs; or create original works of music.
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The Daily Work of Music Directors and Composers Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of music directors and composers include:
- 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.
- Determine voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.
- Experiment with different sounds, and types and pieces of music, using synthesizers and computers as necessary to test and evaluate ideas.
- Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.
Skills and Knowledge
Successful music directors and composers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Music Directors and Composers Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Arranger
- Artistic Director
- Band Director
- Band Leader
- Band Master
- Children's Choir Director
- Choir Director
- Choir Leader
How Many Music Directors and Composers Are There?
The U.S. employs around 170,107 music directors and composers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +6.4% over the projection horizon.
Music Directors and Composers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $66,915 |
| Hourly median | $32.17 |
| 10th percentile | $47,433 |
| 25th percentile | $57,174 |
| 75th percentile | $76,656 |
| 90th percentile | $86,397 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Music Directors and Composers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $91,810 |
| New York | $80,230 |
| Utah | $78,010 |
| Washington | $77,840 |
| Hawaii | $77,440 |
| California | $74,760 |
| Wisconsin | $73,580 |
| Massachusetts | $72,760 |
| Indiana | $71,640 |
| Colorado | $69,160 |
| Oklahoma | $66,650 |
| Oregon | $62,400 |
| Minnesota | $61,830 |
| North Carolina | $61,780 |
| Georgia | $61,270 |
| Ohio | $60,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,410 |
| Mississippi | $60,250 |
| Missouri | $58,640 |
| Maryland | $57,740 |
| Florida | $57,350 |
| Iowa | $56,720 |
| Alaska | $55,810 |
| Texas | $51,380 |
| South Carolina | $49,890 |
| Virginia | $49,670 |
| Montana | $48,530 |
| Illinois | $46,310 |
| Michigan | $42,030 |
| Kentucky | $41,870 |
| South Dakota | $36,990 |
| Alabama | $32,370 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for music directors and composers shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $73,313 | 28.8% | 1.86 |
| Middle Atlantic | $60,678 | 22.6% | 1.70 |
| New England | $57,349 | 4.8% | 1.82 |
| Plains States | $56,193 | 3.1% | 0.91 |
| Great Lakes | $55,608 | 13.2% | 0.93 |
| Rocky Mountains | $54,969 | 3.5% | 1.28 |
| Southwest | $53,237 | 6.2% | 0.60 |
| Southeast | $37,048 | 17.9% | 1.28 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $114,290 | 40 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | PA | $104,000 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $97,980 | 1,050 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $96,430 | 50 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | WA | $94,020 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $92,930 | 480 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $91,440 | 40 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | CO | $86,740 | 30 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of music directors and composers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 5,100 | $72,530 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3,550 | $60,510 |
| Educational Services | 2,220 | $56,850 |
| Information | 1,200 | n/a |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 50 | $55,810 |
Music Directors and Composers work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for music directors and composers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Getting Started in This Career
Entry-level music directors and composers positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (Supplemental)
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education (Supplemental)
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Art Directors (Primary-Long)
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (Supplemental)
- Actors (Supplemental)
- Producers and Directors (Primary-Short)
- Media Programming Directors (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for music directors and composers typically earn programs in:
Visual and Performing Arts
10 programs across 3 majors
Theology and Religious Vocations
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 27-2041.00 (Music Directors and Composers).
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