Music Directors and Composers Salary in NC

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Music Directors and Composers in NC have a median annual salary of $63,380, with 200 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $38,480 at the 10th percentile to $190,280 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$63,380

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$30.47

Employment

200

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$38,480
10th
$49,610
25th
$63,380
Median
$82,430
75th
$190,280
90th

Local compared with national

NC

$63,380

Median annual · 2025

United States

$73,710

Median annual · 2025

The NC median is 14.0% below the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $10,330).

Top skills

  1. 1.Active ListeningImportance 3.9
  2. 2.SpeakingImportance 3.6
  3. 3.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.5
  4. 4.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.5
  5. 5.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.5
  6. 6.WritingImportance 3.4
  7. 7.Active LearningImportance 3.4
  8. 8.CoordinationImportance 3.4
  9. 9.MonitoringImportance 3.3
  10. 10.PersuasionImportance 3.3
  11. 11.Social PerceptivenessImportance 3.1
  12. 12.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.1

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Master's Degree
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Job zone
4

Technology used

  • 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
  • ChordWizard Software Soundtrix Gold

Common tasks

  • Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
  • 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.
  • Audition and select performers for musical presentations.
  • Plan and schedule rehearsals and performances, and arrange details such as locations, accompanists, and instrumentalists.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Music Directors and Composers salary in other locations

Other occupations in NC