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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023

27-2042 Musicians and Singers

Play one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.


National estimates for Musicians and Singers
Industry profile for Musicians and Singers
Geographic profile for Musicians and Singers

National estimates for Musicians and Singers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Musicians and Singers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
35,520 2.8 % $ 51.65 (4) 2.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Musicians and Singers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 16.02 $ 23.70 $ 39.14 $ 60.92 $ 102.98
  (4)

Industry profile for Musicians and Singers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Musicians and Singers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Musicians and Singers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Musicians and Singers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Performing Arts Companies 21,290 15.77 $ 53.43 (4)
Religious Organizations 6,420 3.29 $ 58.92 (4)
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,770 0.06 $ 31.25 (4)
Elementary and Secondary Schools 1,550 0.02 $ 33.20 (4)
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 940 0.57 $ 70.09 (4)

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Musicians and Singers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Performing Arts Companies 21,290 15.77 $ 53.43 (4)
Religious Organizations 6,420 3.29 $ 58.92 (4)
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers 690 1.07 $ 39.20 (4)
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 940 0.57 $ 70.09 (4)
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 50 0.31 $ 104.70 (4)

Top paying industries for Musicians and Singers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 50 0.31 $ 104.70 (4)
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events 940 0.57 $ 70.09 (4)
Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (8) (8) $ 60.00 (4)
Religious Organizations 6,420 3.29 $ 58.92 (4)
Performing Arts Companies 21,290 15.77 $ 53.43 (4)


Geographic profile for Musicians and Singers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Musicians and Singers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Musicians and Singers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of musicians and singers by state, May 2023


States with the highest employment level in Musicians and Singers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 5,540 0.31 1.32 $ 51.73 (4)
New York 4,080 0.43 1.86 $ 55.78 (4)
Florida 2,180 0.23 0.97 $ 59.27 (4)
Illinois 1,950 0.32 1.39 $ 64.68 (4)
Tennessee 1,870 0.58 2.48 $ 48.50 (4)


Map of location quotient of musicians and singers by state, May 2023


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Musicians and Singers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii 790 1.28 5.47 $ 60.65 (4)
Tennessee 1,870 0.58 2.48 $ 48.50 (4)
Nevada 740 0.50 2.15 (8) (8)
New York 4,080 0.43 1.86 $ 55.78 (4)
Oregon 720 0.37 1.58 $ 45.14 (4)


Map of annual mean wages of musicians and singers by state, May 2023


Top paying states for Musicians and Singers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Minnesota 660 0.23 0.98 $ 78.75 (4)
Rhode Island (8) (8) (8) $ 71.87 (4)
Connecticut 600 0.36 1.55 $ 67.27 (4)
Illinois 1,950 0.32 1.39 $ 64.68 (4)
Washington 950 0.27 1.17 $ 63.73 (4)



Map of employment of musicians and singers by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Musicians and Singers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 3,490 0.37 1.57 $ 56.54 (4)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,750 0.44 1.90 $ 49.08 (4)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 1,580 0.35 1.50 $ 67.65 (4)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 1,450 1.35 5.75 $ 49.86 (4)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 910 0.38 1.60 $ 62.93 (4)
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV 710 0.66 2.80 (8) (8)
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 690 0.33 1.42 $ 68.85 (4)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 640 0.21 0.88 $ 59.22 (4)
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 610 0.47 1.99 $ 42.70 (4)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 570 0.20 0.86 $ 51.88 (4)


Map of location quotient of musicians and singers by area, May 2023


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Musicians and Singers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 120 1.54 6.60 (8) (8)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 1,450 1.35 5.75 $ 49.86 (4)
Urban Honolulu, HI 540 1.22 5.22 $ 54.40 (4)
Walla Walla, WA 30 1.22 5.21 $ 43.30 (4)
Eugene, OR 130 0.84 3.60 $ 50.31 (4)
Corvallis, OR 30 0.81 3.48 $ 43.28 (4)
Binghamton, NY 70 0.72 3.06 $ 55.15 (4)
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV 710 0.66 2.80 (8) (8)
Battle Creek, MI 30 0.61 2.63 $ 41.96 (4)
Ann Arbor, MI 130 0.59 2.50 $ 28.26 (4)


Map of annual mean wages of musicians and singers by area, May 2023


Top paying metropolitan areas for Musicians and Singers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Waterbury, CT 30 0.51 2.17 $ 80.14 (4)
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL (8) (8) (8) $ 72.72 (4)
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 250 0.44 1.88 $ 70.05 (4)
New Haven, CT 130 0.45 1.91 $ 69.29 (4)
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 690 0.33 1.42 $ 68.85 (4)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 1,580 0.35 1.50 $ 67.65 (4)
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 480 0.17 0.73 $ 66.72 (4)
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 110 0.28 1.18 $ 65.43 (4)
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 220 0.13 0.56 $ 65.32 (4)
Midland, TX (8) (8) (8) $ 64.53 (4)

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Musicians and Singers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area 150 2.05 8.76 $ 32.62 (4)
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 140 1.34 5.73 $ 64.16 (4)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 60 0.15 0.63 $ 20.08 (4)
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 50 0.21 0.92 $ 42.91 (4)
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area 40 0.31 1.34 $ 45.03 (4)

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Musicians and Singers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area 150 2.05 8.76 $ 32.62 (4)
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 140 1.34 5.73 $ 64.16 (4)
Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area 30 0.33 1.41 $ 19.14 (4)
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area 40 0.31 1.34 $ 45.03 (4)
Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area 30 0.29 1.25 (8) (8)

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Musicians and Singers:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 140 1.34 5.73 $ 64.16 (4)
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area 40 0.31 1.34 $ 45.03 (4)
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 44.43 (4)
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 50 0.21 0.92 $ 42.91 (4)
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 30 0.12 0.52 $ 35.90 (4)


About May 2023 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(4) Wages for some occupations that do not generally work year-round, full time, are reported either as hourly wages or annual salaries depending on how they are typically paid.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2023 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024