How much does a music director and composer make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $35.44 an hour or $6,143 a month.
- Hourly
- $35.44
- Average (mean)
- $90,470
- Jobs
- 12,540
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,880 | $19.17 | |
| 25th | $53,110 | $25.53 | |
| Median | $73,710 | $35.44 | |
| 75th | $104,100 | $50.04 | |
| 90th | $165,800 | $79.69 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| New Jersey | $122,800 |
| California | $93,090 |
| Colorado | $88,460 |
| District of Columbia | $84,040 |
| New York | $82,930 |
| Utah | $82,570 |
| Tennessee | $79,640 |
| Wisconsin | $78,690 |
| Massachusetts | $78,620 |
| Indiana | $77,270 |
| Connecticut | $77,070 |
| Washington | $75,060 |
| Hawaii | $74,570 |
| Georgia | $67,100 |
| Texas | $65,570 |
| Maryland | $64,300 |
| North Carolina | $63,380 |
| Mississippi | $62,240 |
| Iowa | $61,740 |
| Missouri | $61,670 |
| Ohio | $61,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,160 |
| Oregon | $60,800 |
| Michigan | $59,400 |
| Virginia | $59,050 |
| Florida | $57,830 |
| Oklahoma | $54,250 |
| Montana | $51,530 |
| Illinois | $49,270 |
| Alabama | $42,250 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Syracuse, NY | $140,200 |
| Trenton, NJ | $115,400 |
| San Francisco, CA | $113,000 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $104,700 |
| New York, NY | $97,970 |
| Sacramento, CA | $94,700 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $93,090 |
| Nashville, TN | $84,660 |
| Rochester, NY | $84,130 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $82,920 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $82,570 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $81,770 |
| Madison, WI | $79,870 |
| Boston, MA | $78,760 |
| Washington, DC | $78,760 |
In other countries
Music Director and Composer belongs to the international group "Musicians, singers and composers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Actor$60,420
- Producer and Director$90,360
- Athlete and Sports Competitor$66,710
- Coach and Scout$47,320
- Umpire$40,710
- Dancer$51,580
- Choreographer$55,310
- Musician and Singer$99,420
- Disc Jockey$44,950
- Entertainer and Performer$39,150
Frequently asked questions
How much does a music director and composer make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $35.44 ($73,710 a year).
How much does a music director and composer make a month?
About $6,143 a month before tax, based on a median of $73,710 a year.
How much does a music director and composer make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $39,880 or less a year ($19.17 an hour); the top 10% make $165,800 or more.
Which state pays music director and composers the most?
New Jersey, with a median of $122,800 a year, followed by California ($93,090) and Colorado ($88,460).
Which city pays music director and composers the most?
Syracuse, NY, with a median of $140,200 a year.
How many music director and composers are there in the United States?
About 12,540 people work as music director and composers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.