Music Director and Composer Salary
Music Directors and Composers earn a median $73,710 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
U.S. median
$73,710
$35.44 per hour
Range
$39,880 – $165,760
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
12,540
across the U.S.
Music Director and Composer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$60,685
per year · effective tax rate 17.7%
$5,057Monthly
$2,529Twice a month
$2,334Every 2 weeks
$29.18Hourly
- Federal income tax$7,386
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,570
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,069
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$60,685
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,880 | $19.17 | $34,224 |
| 25th percentile | $53,110 | $25.53 | $44,854 |
| Median (50th) | $73,710 | $35.44 | $60,685 |
| 75th percentile | $104,090 | $50.04 | $82,057 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,760 | $79.69 | $124,563 |
Best cities for music directors and composers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $97,970 | $73,012 | $64,863 | 1,520 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $93,090 | $68,681 | $60,477 | 1,280 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $97,970
- Los Angeles, CA — $93,090
Music Director and Composer salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $122,750 | $89,536 | $67,690 – $205,740 | 210 |
| California | $93,090 | $68,681 | $48,600 – $175,670 | 2,510 |
| Colorado | $88,460 | $67,878 | $49,170 – $158,760 | 160 |
| District of Columbia | $84,040 | $63,777 | $39,310 – $159,250 | 140 |
| New York | $82,930 | $63,290 | $46,640 – $199,430 | 2,370 |
| Utah | $82,570 | $64,168 | $65,110 – $86,410 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $79,640 | $64,857 | $18,520 – $117,820 | 400 |
| Wisconsin | $78,690 | $61,398 | $43,630 – $177,040 | 200 |
| Massachusetts | $78,620 | $60,428 | $51,120 – $150,380 | 340 |
| Indiana | $77,270 | $60,939 | $47,480 – $175,610 | 200 |
| Connecticut | $77,070 | $60,385 | $46,430 – $207,250 | 120 |
| Washington | $75,060 | $61,635 | $51,230 – $161,370 | 260 |
| Hawaii | $74,570 | $57,153 | $53,790 – $116,390 | 90 |
| Georgia | $67,100 | $53,175 | $19,900 – $123,530 | — |
| Texas | $65,570 | $54,865 | $27,970 – $130,290 | 480 |
| Maryland | $64,300 | $51,154 | $48,450 – $124,790 | 160 |
| North Carolina | $63,380 | $51,086 | $38,480 – $190,280 | 200 |
| Mississippi | $62,240 | $50,432 | $32,700 – $87,460 | 40 |
| Iowa | $61,740 | $50,094 | $28,500 – $100,360 | 120 |
| Missouri | $61,670 | $49,771 | $44,990 – $113,670 | 60 |
| Ohio | $61,380 | $50,593 | $40,350 – $121,270 | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,160 | $49,444 | $36,540 – $109,380 | 580 |
| Oregon | $60,800 | $46,542 | $40,340 – $115,740 | 500 |
| Michigan | $59,400 | $47,634 | $36,700 – $125,090 | 310 |
| Virginia | $59,050 | $47,045 | $42,910 – $130,980 | 370 |
| Florida | $57,830 | $48,646 | $36,350 – $93,510 | 570 |
| Oklahoma | $54,250 | $43,874 | $29,540 – $167,740 | 60 |
| Montana | $51,530 | $41,919 | $44,230 – $76,680 | 110 |
| Illinois | $49,270 | $39,474 | $31,930 – $104,000 | — |
| Alabama | $42,250 | $34,280 | $27,850 – $62,700 | 70 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a music director and composer make?
The national median salary for music directors and composers is $73,710 a year ($35.44 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,880 and the top 10% earn over $165,760. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays music directors and composers the most?
New Jersey has the highest median pay at $122,750. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many music directors and composers are there in the U.S.?
About 12,540 people work as music directors and composers nationwide.