Music Directors and Composers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for music directors and composers is $73,710, or $35.44 per hour. About 12,540 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $122,750 in New Jersey to $42,250 in Alabama.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 30 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $122,750 | $59.02 | 210 | 0.62 |
| 2 | California | $93,090 | $44.76 | 2,510 | 1.71 |
| 3 | Colorado | $88,460 | $42.53 | 160 | 0.69 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $84,040 | $40.41 | 140 | 2.50 |
| 5 | New York | $82,930 | $39.87 | 2,370 | 3.03 |
| 6 | Utah | $82,570 | $39.70 | 150 | 1.06 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $79,640 | $38.29 | 400 | 1.49 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $78,690 | $37.83 | 200 | 0.86 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $78,620 | $37.80 | 340 | 1.16 |
| 10 | Indiana | $77,270 | $37.15 | 200 | 0.78 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $77,070 | $37.06 | 120 | 0.90 |
| 12 | Washington | $75,060 | $36.09 | 260 | 0.91 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $74,570 | $35.85 | 90 | 1.74 |
| 14 | Georgia | $67,100 | $32.26 | — | — |
| 15 | Texas | $65,570 | $31.53 | 480 | 0.43 |
| 16 | Maryland | $64,300 | $30.91 | 160 | 0.74 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $63,380 | $30.47 | 200 | 0.51 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $62,240 | $29.92 | 40 | 0.46 |
| 19 | Iowa | $61,740 | $29.68 | 120 | 0.99 |
| 20 | Missouri | $61,670 | $29.65 | 60 | 0.23 |
| 21 | Ohio | $61,380 | $29.51 | 440 | 0.98 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $61,160 | $29.41 | 580 | 1.18 |
| 23 | Oregon | $60,800 | $29.23 | 500 | 3.16 |
| 24 | Michigan | $59,400 | $28.56 | 310 | 0.87 |
| 25 | Virginia | $59,050 | $28.39 | 370 | 1.11 |
| 26 | Florida | $57,830 | $27.81 | 570 | 0.71 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $54,250 | $26.08 | 60 | 0.46 |
| 28 | Montana | $51,530 | $24.77 | 110 | 2.62 |
| 29 | Illinois | $49,270 | $23.69 | — | — |
| 30 | Alabama | $42,250 | $20.31 | 70 | 0.42 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do music directors and composers make?
The median annual wage for music directors and composers in the United States is $73,710, or $35.44 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $39,880, and the top 10% earn $165,760.
How many music directors and composers are employed in the U.S.?
About 12,540 people work as music directors and composers nationwide.
Which state pays music directors and composers the most?
New Jersey pays the most at a median of $122,750, followed by California ($93,090) and Colorado ($88,460).
Which state pays music directors and composers the least?
Alabama has the lowest median at $42,250.
Where are music directors and composers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Oregon at 3.16×.