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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.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Music Directors and Composers:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
11,690 | 4.8 % | $ 45.88 | $ 95,430 | 9.2 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Music Directors and Composers:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $ 15.26 | $ 21.66 | $ 30.26 | $ 47.21 | $ 79.69 |
Annual Wage (2) | $ 31,750 | $ 45,050 | $ 62,940 | $ 98,200 | $ 165,760 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Music Directors and Composers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Music Directors and Composers, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Music Directors and Composers:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Performing Arts Companies | 3,730 | 3.09 | $ 41.22 | $ 85,730 |
Religious Organizations | 3,720 | 1.97 | $ 37.14 | $ 77,260 |
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | 930 | 1.50 | (8) | (8) |
Elementary and Secondary Schools | 820 | 0.01 | $ 32.69 | $ 68,000 |
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 590 | 0.02 | $ 30.99 | $ 64,460 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Music Directors and Composers:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Performing Arts Companies | 3,730 | 3.09 | $ 41.22 | $ 85,730 |
Sound Recording Industries | 440 | 2.21 | $ 39.25 | $ 81,640 |
Religious Organizations | 3,720 | 1.97 | $ 37.14 | $ 77,260 |
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | 930 | 1.50 | (8) | (8) |
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | 140 | 0.10 | $ 44.14 | $ 91,820 |
Top paying industries for Music Directors and Composers:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures | (8) | (8) | $ 48.84 | $ 101,590 |
Motion Picture and Video Industries | 360 | 0.09 | $ 46.40 | $ 96,510 |
Employment Services | (8) | (8) | $ 45.27 | $ 94,170 |
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | 140 | 0.10 | $ 44.14 | $ 91,820 |
Performing Arts Companies | 3,730 | 3.09 | $ 41.22 | $ 85,730 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Music Directors and Composers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Music Directors and Composers, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Music Directors and Composers:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
California | 2,250 | 0.13 | 1.61 | $ 47.20 | $ 98,170 |
New York | 2,030 | 0.22 | 2.82 | (8) | (8) |
Florida | 880 | 0.10 | 1.21 | $ 33.73 | $ 70,160 |
Pennsylvania | 600 | 0.10 | 1.30 | $ 26.86 | $ 55,870 |
Tennessee | 560 | 0.18 | 2.27 | $ 36.41 | $ 75,730 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Music Directors and Composers:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hawaii | 260 | 0.44 | 5.62 | $ 34.57 | $ 71,900 |
Rhode Island | 170 | 0.36 | 4.50 | (8) | (8) |
New York | 2,030 | 0.22 | 2.82 | (8) | (8) |
Montana | 110 | 0.22 | 2.77 | (8) | (8) |
Tennessee | 560 | 0.18 | 2.27 | $ 36.41 | $ 75,730 |
Top paying states for Music Directors and Composers:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
District of Columbia | 90 | 0.13 | 1.68 | $ 63.30 | $ 131,670 |
Massachusetts | 240 | 0.07 | 0.87 | $ 52.32 | $ 108,820 |
Connecticut | 280 | 0.17 | 2.16 | $ 47.60 | $ 99,000 |
California | 2,250 | 0.13 | 1.61 | $ 47.20 | $ 98,170 |
Texas | 290 | 0.02 | 0.28 | $ 43.13 | $ 89,710 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Music Directors and Composers:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,390 | 0.23 | 2.89 | $ 49.66 | $ 103,290 |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 1,360 | 0.15 | 1.87 | (8) | (8) |
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 470 | 0.46 | 5.76 | $ 37.15 | $ 77,270 |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 350 | 0.13 | 1.70 | $ 37.30 | $ 77,580 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 230 | 0.08 | 1.06 | $ 29.09 | $ 60,510 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 220 | 0.05 | 0.63 | $ 27.59 | $ 57,380 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 210 | 0.09 | 1.13 | $ 52.43 | $ 109,050 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 210 | 0.07 | 0.87 | $ 46.03 | $ 95,740 |
Urban Honolulu, HI | 200 | 0.48 | 6.12 | $ 33.51 | $ 69,700 |
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 180 | 0.07 | 0.86 | $ 52.61 | $ 109,430 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Music Directors and Composers:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bend-Redmond, OR | 50 | 0.60 | 7.56 | $ 25.38 | $ 52,780 |
Syracuse, NY | 150 | 0.51 | 6.47 | (8) | (8) |
Urban Honolulu, HI | 200 | 0.48 | 6.12 | $ 33.51 | $ 69,700 |
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 470 | 0.46 | 5.76 | $ 37.15 | $ 77,270 |
Rochester, NY | 180 | 0.38 | 4.79 | $ 29.91 | $ 62,220 |
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 170 | 0.30 | 3.74 | (8) | (8) |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,390 | 0.23 | 2.89 | $ 49.66 | $ 103,290 |
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 90 | 0.22 | 2.77 | $ 35.97 | $ 74,810 |
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 80 | 0.19 | 2.42 | $ 50.77 | $ 105,600 |
Trenton, NJ | 50 | 0.19 | 2.41 | $ 41.84 | $ 87,030 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Music Directors and Composers:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 180 | 0.07 | 0.86 | $ 52.61 | $ 109,430 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 210 | 0.09 | 1.13 | $ 52.43 | $ 109,050 |
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 80 | 0.19 | 2.42 | $ 50.77 | $ 105,600 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,390 | 0.23 | 2.89 | $ 49.66 | $ 103,290 |
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 70 | 0.06 | 0.75 | $ 49.37 | $ 102,690 |
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 100 | 0.18 | 2.24 | $ 46.15 | $ 95,990 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 210 | 0.07 | 0.87 | $ 46.03 | $ 95,740 |
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 50 | 0.02 | 0.20 | $ 44.97 | $ 93,530 |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 70 | 0.02 | 0.23 | $ 44.62 | $ 92,820 |
Richmond, VA | 40 | 0.07 | 0.88 | $ 44.06 | $ 91,640 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Music Directors and Composers:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.36 | 4.50 | (8) | (8) |
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.43 | 5.50 | $ 41.39 | $ 86,100 |
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | 40 | 0.11 | 1.44 | $ 42.14 | $ 87,650 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Music Directors and Composers:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.43 | 5.50 | $ 41.39 | $ 86,100 |
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.36 | 4.50 | (8) | (8) |
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | 40 | 0.11 | 1.44 | $ 42.14 | $ 87,650 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Music Directors and Composers:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | 40 | 0.11 | 1.44 | $ 42.14 | $ 87,650 |
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.43 | 5.50 | $ 41.39 | $ 86,100 |
Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $ 37.31 | $ 77,600 |
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $ 19.33 | $ 40,200 |
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.
(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 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023