Music Directors and Composers salary by location
National median: $73,710 (2025 OEWS). Percentages below describe each area's published median against that national figure.
| Location | Type | Median | vs national | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | metropolitan | $140,230 | +90.2% | 120 | 2025 |
| NJ | state | $122,750 | +66.5% | 210 | 2025 |
| Trenton, NJ | metropolitan | $115,400 | +56.6% | 30 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | metropolitan | $112,950 | +53.2% | 320 | 2025 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | metropolitan | $104,690 | +42.0% | 40 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | metropolitan | $97,970 | +32.9% | 1,520 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | metropolitan | $94,700 | +28.5% | 110 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | metropolitan | $93,090 | +26.3% | 1,280 | 2025 |
| CA | state | $93,090 | +26.3% | 2,510 | 2025 |
| CO | state | $88,460 | +20.0% | 160 | 2025 |
| Nashville, TN | metropolitan | $84,660 | +14.9% | 310 | 2025 |
| Rochester, NY | metropolitan | $84,130 | +14.1% | 180 | 2025 |
| DC | state | $84,040 | +14.0% | 140 | 2025 |
| NY | state | $82,930 | +12.5% | 2,370 | 2025 |
| Las Vegas, NV | metropolitan | $82,920 | +12.5% | — | 2025 |
| UT | state | $82,570 | +12.0% | 150 | 2025 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | metropolitan | $82,570 | +12.0% | 100 | 2025 |
| Indianapolis, IN | metropolitan | $81,770 | +10.9% | 90 | 2025 |
| Madison, WI | metropolitan | $79,870 | +8.4% | 70 | 2025 |
| TN | state | $79,640 | +8.0% | 400 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | metropolitan | $78,760 | +6.9% | 320 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | metropolitan | $78,760 | +6.9% | 260 | 2025 |
| WI | state | $78,690 | +6.8% | 200 | 2025 |
| MA | state | $78,620 | +6.7% | 340 | 2025 |
| IN | state | $77,270 | +4.8% | 200 | 2025 |
| CT | state | $77,070 | +4.6% | 120 | 2025 |
| Dallas, TX | metropolitan | $76,700 | +4.1% | 130 | 2025 |
| WA | state | $75,060 | +1.8% | 260 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | metropolitan | $75,030 | +1.8% | 190 | 2025 |
| HI | state | $74,570 | +1.2% | 90 | 2025 |
| Cleveland, OH | metropolitan | $74,370 | +0.9% | 100 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | metropolitan | $74,270 | +0.8% | 170 | 2025 |
| Scranton, PA | metropolitan | $73,610 | −0.1% | 40 | 2025 |
| Hartford, CT | metropolitan | $71,850 | −2.5% | 40 | 2025 |
| Allentown, PA | metropolitan | $71,800 | −2.6% | 40 | 2025 |
| Lancaster, PA | metropolitan | $71,100 | −3.5% | 40 | 2025 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | metropolitan | $69,330 | −5.9% | 70 | 2025 |
| Charlotte, NC | metropolitan | $67,590 | −8.3% | 40 | 2025 |
| GA | state | $67,100 | −9.0% | — | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | metropolitan | $66,800 | −9.4% | 160 | 2025 |
| TX | state | $65,570 | −11.0% | 480 | 2025 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | metropolitan | $65,190 | −11.6% | 60 | 2025 |
| Atlanta, GA | metropolitan | $64,440 | −12.6% | — | 2025 |
| MD | state | $64,300 | −12.8% | 160 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | metropolitan | $64,300 | −12.8% | 110 | 2025 |
| Providence, RI | metropolitan | $64,250 | −12.8% | 150 | 2025 |
| Dayton, OH | metropolitan | $63,850 | −13.4% | 30 | 2025 |
| Houston, TX | metropolitan | $63,440 | −13.9% | 110 | 2025 |
| NC | state | $63,380 | −14.0% | 200 | 2025 |
| Cincinnati, OH | metropolitan | $63,290 | −14.1% | 70 | 2025 |
| MS | state | $62,240 | −15.6% | 40 | 2025 |
| Des Moines, IA | metropolitan | $61,740 | −16.2% | 70 | 2025 |
| IA | state | $61,740 | −16.2% | 120 | 2025 |
| St. Louis, MO | metropolitan | $61,670 | −16.3% | 40 | 2025 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | metropolitan | $61,670 | −16.3% | 100 | 2025 |
| MO | state | $61,670 | −16.3% | 60 | 2025 |
| OH | state | $61,380 | −16.7% | 440 | 2025 |
| PA | state | $61,160 | −17.0% | 580 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | metropolitan | $61,160 | −17.0% | 250 | 2025 |
| OR | state | $60,800 | −17.5% | 500 | 2025 |
| Miami, FL | metropolitan | $60,500 | −17.9% | 130 | 2025 |
| Jacksonville, FL | metropolitan | $60,000 | −18.6% | 30 | 2025 |
| Orlando, FL | metropolitan | $59,720 | −19.0% | 70 | 2025 |
| MI | state | $59,400 | −19.4% | 310 | 2025 |
| VA | state | $59,050 | −19.9% | 370 | 2025 |
| Raleigh, NC | metropolitan | $58,570 | −20.5% | 40 | 2025 |
| Columbus, OH | metropolitan | $58,490 | −20.6% | 60 | 2025 |
| Richmond, VA | metropolitan | $57,860 | −21.5% | 40 | 2025 |
| FL | state | $57,830 | −21.5% | 570 | 2025 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | metropolitan | $57,650 | −21.8% | 90 | 2025 |
| Salem, OR | metropolitan | $56,730 | −23.0% | — | 2025 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | metropolitan | $55,130 | −25.2% | 100 | 2025 |
| OK | state | $54,250 | −26.4% | 60 | 2025 |
| Detroit, MI | metropolitan | $52,900 | −28.2% | 120 | 2025 |
| MT | state | $51,530 | −30.1% | 110 | 2025 |
| Akron, OH | metropolitan | $51,530 | −30.1% | 40 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | metropolitan | $50,530 | −31.4% | — | 2025 |
| IL | state | $49,270 | −33.2% | — | 2025 |
| Tampa, FL | metropolitan | $49,150 | −33.3% | 130 | 2025 |
| Fresno, CA | metropolitan | $46,960 | −36.3% | 40 | 2025 |
| AL | state | $42,250 | −42.7% | 70 | 2025 |
| Binghamton, NY | metropolitan | $40,500 | −45.1% | 40 | 2025 |