Music Directors and Composers Career, Salary and Skills
Music Directors and Composers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $73,710 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 12,540. Wage data is published for 82 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
27-2041.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Master's Degree
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$73,710
Hourly median
$35.44
Employment
12,540
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 3.62 |
| Speaking | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.50 | 3.12 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.50 | 3.75 |
| Coordination | 3.38 | 3.75 |
| Active Learning | 3.38 | 3.38 |
| Writing | 3.38 | 3.50 |
| Persuasion | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.62 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
Technology
- Anvil Studio
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Apple MainStage
- Arobas Music Guitar Pro
- Arpege Music Pizzicato
- Audacity
- Audio Chaos Soundscape Generator
- Audiveris
- Avid Pro Tools
- Avid Technology Sibelius
- Azemus FS
- Basic Music Composer
- Cakewalk SONAR
- Canorus
Music Directors and Composers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Music Directors and Composers Salary in CAMedian $93,090 · Employment 2,510
- Music Directors and Composers Salary in NYMedian $82,930 · Employment 2,370
- Music Directors and Composers Salary in New York, NYMedian $97,970 · Employment 1,520
- Music Directors and Composers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $93,090 · Employment 1,280
- Music Directors and Composers Salary in PAMedian $61,160 · Employment 580
- Music Directors and Composers Salary in FLMedian $57,830 · Employment 570
- Music Directors and Composers Salary in ORMedian $60,800 · Employment 500
- Music Directors and Composers Salary in TXMedian $65,570 · Employment 480
- Music Directors and Composers Salary in OHMedian $61,380 · Employment 440
- Music Directors and Composers Salary in TNMedian $79,640 · Employment 400
- Music Directors and Composers Salary in VAMedian $59,050 · Employment 370
- Music Directors and Composers Salary in MAMedian $78,620 · Employment 340
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.