Music Directors and Composers · Washington

Music Directors and Composers Salary in Washington

Music Directors and Composers in Washington earn a median annual wage of $75,060 —1.8% above the national median of $73,710. That ranks WA #12 of 30 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$75,060
Median hourly
$36.09
Entry level (P10)
$51,230
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$161,370
90th percentile
Employment
260
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+1.8%
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
$51,230
$61,320
$75,060
$104,090
$51,230$75,060$161,370
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $75,060.

Employment concentration (0.91×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for music directors and composers

All 30 states ranked by median annual wage. Washington 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 Washington

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Washington.

OccupationWashington medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$87,470$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$48,030$47,320
Graphic Designers$72,710$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$48,780$39,390
Producers and Directors$81,550$90,360
Editors$77,850$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do music directors and composers make in Washington?

The median annual wage for music directors and composers in Washington is $75,060, or $36.09 per hour. That is 1.8% above the national median of $73,710.

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

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $51,230 per year ($24.63/hour). The 25th percentile is $61,320.

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

About 260 people work in this occupation in Washington, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Washington a good state for music directors and composers?

Washington ranks #12 of 30 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.91x) is close to the national average.

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