How much does a music director and composer make in Chicago?
$50,530a year
Median yearly pay for music director and composers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $24.29 an hour or $4,211 a month.
- Hourly
- $24.29
- Vs. national median
- -31%
- Rank among cities
- 49 of 52
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,790Median: $50,530Highest 10%: $104,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,790 | $16.73 | |
| 25th | $40,540 | $19.49 | |
| Median | $50,530 | $24.29 | |
| 75th | $74,480 | $35.81 | |
| 90th | $104,000 | $50.00 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for music director and composers.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $113,000 |
| Musician and Singer | $110,600 |
| Art Director | $104,600 |
| Camera Operator | $102,400 |
| Broadcast Technician | $96,060 |
| Technical Writer | $89,960 |
| Media and Communication Worker | $89,620 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Worker | $85,400 |
| Producer and Director | $85,040 |
| Special Effects Artist and Animator | $83,200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a music director and composer make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $24.29 ($50,530 a year).
Do music director and composers make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $50,530 against $73,710 nationally, 31% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $49,270, so Chicago pays 3% more.
Where does Chicago rank for music director and composer pay?
49 of 52 metro areas with data.
How much does a music director and composer make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,790 or less a year; the top 10% make $104,000 or more.
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.