Music Directors and Composers Salary in Rochester, NY

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Music Directors and Composers in Rochester, NY have a median annual salary of $84,130, with 180 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $43,040 at the 10th percentile to $161,710 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

$84,130

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$40.45

Employment

180

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$43,040
10th
$57,600
25th
$84,130
Median
$88,460
75th
$161,710
90th

Local compared with national

Rochester, NY

$84,130

Median annual · 2025

United States

$73,710

Median annual · 2025

The Rochester, NY median is 14.1% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $10,420).

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 Rochester, NY