Music Directors and Composers · Illinois

Music Directors and Composers Salary in Illinois

Music Directors and Composers in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $49,270 —33.2% below the national median of $73,710. That ranks IL #29 of 30 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$49,270
Median hourly
$23.69
Entry level (P10)
$31,930
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$104,000
90th percentile
Employment
—
vs U.S. median
-33.2%
U.S. $73,710

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$31,930
$37,470
$49,270
$65,520
$31,930$49,270$104,000
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $49,270.

Highest-paying states for music directors and composers

All 30 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New Jersey$122,750$59.022100.62
2California$93,090$44.762,5101.71
3Colorado$88,460$42.531600.69
4District of Columbia$84,040$40.411402.50
5New York$82,930$39.872,3703.03
6Utah$82,570$39.701501.06
7Tennessee$79,640$38.294001.49
8Wisconsin$78,690$37.832000.86
9Massachusetts$78,620$37.803401.16
10Indiana$77,270$37.152000.78

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

OccupationIllinois medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$76,380$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$49,120$47,320
Graphic Designers$62,560$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$40,270$39,390
Producers and Directors$81,080$90,360
Editors$76,060$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do music directors and composers make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for music directors and composers in Illinois is $49,270, or $23.69 per hour. That is 33.2% below the national median of $73,710.

What is the entry-level music directors and composers salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $31,930 per year ($15.35/hour). The 25th percentile is $37,470.

How many people work as music directors and composers in Illinois?

About — people work in this occupation in Illinois.

Is Illinois a good state for music directors and composers?

Illinois ranks #29 of 30 states by median wage for this occupation.

Which state pays music directors and composers the most?

New Jersey has the highest median wage at $122,750 per year, followed by California ($93,090) and Colorado ($88,460).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes