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Percussion Instruments

Types of Degrees Percussion Instruments Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Percussion Instruments may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Associate’s Degree	1
Bachelor’s Degree	15
Master’s Degree	18
Doctor’s Degree	1

What Percussion Instruments Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Percussion Instruments build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Percussion Instruments graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Percussion Instruments emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Fine Arts — Importance 4.9 / 5; level 6.5 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 6.0 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• Communications and Media — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Psychology — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Percussion Instruments program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.6 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Instructing — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Learning Strategies — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Percussion Instruments careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Percussion Instruments graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Thinking Creatively	4.8 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.7 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.6 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.4 / 7
Coaching and Developing Others	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.2 / 7
Getting Information	4.0 / 7
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates	4.0 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Percussion Instruments professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Adobe InDesign	Desktop publishing software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
QuarkXPress	Desktop publishing software	—
Sonic Studio audio software	Music or sound editing software	—
Autodesk MotionBuilder	Video creation and editing software	—
Blackboard software	Computer based training software	—
Apple Final Cut Pro	Video creation and editing software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Percussion Instruments graduates include:

• Dramatic Coach
• Visual Arts Instructor
• Art Professor
• Associate Professor
• Elementary Art Instructor
• Professor
• Band Teacher
• Makeup Artistry Instructor
• College Faculty Member
• Adjunct Music Instructor
• Adjunct College Instructor
• Dance Instructor
• Art Educator
• Music Instructor
• Art Instructor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Percussion Instruments graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Master’s degree	49.3%
Doctoral degree	30.8%
Bachelor’s degree	14.5%
Post-master’s certificate	1.5%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	1.4%
Less than a high school diploma	0.8%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	0.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.5%
Some college courses	0.3%
Post-doctoral training	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Percussion Instruments?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 74.3% of Percussion Instruments degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	9	25.7%
Men	26	74.3%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Percussion Instruments graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	23	65.7%
Asian	4	11.4%
Black or African American	1	2.9%
Two or More Races	1	2.9%
Race Unknown	1	2.9%
International Students	5	14.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Percussion Instruments Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Percussion Instruments graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$29,248
4 years	$35,586
5 years	$40,828

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $40,828 — roughly 40% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Percussion Instruments Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Percussion Instruments graduates earn a median of $35,586 four years after completion — about 6% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Music	50.09
Brass Instruments	50.0914
Conducting	50.0906
Jazz/Jazz Studies	50.0910
Keyboard Instruments	50.0907
Music History, Literature, and Theory	50.0902
Music Pedagogy	50.0912
Music Performance, General	50.0903
Music Technology	50.0913
Music Theory and Composition	50.0904
Music, General	50.0901
Music, Other	50.0999

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.