Outpaid

Music Directors and Composers salary

The BLS estimates 12,540 Music Directors and Composers jobs in the U.S. with a median base pay of $73,710 (May 2025, SOC 27-2041). Across 7 metros with published figures, medians range from $61,160 in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD to $112,950 in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA.

MUSIC DIRECTORS AND COMPOSERS · UNITED STATES · BLS
BLS · UNITED STATES · ALL EMPLOYERS, ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
P10$39,880P25$53,110MEDIAN$73,710P75$104,090P90$165,760
30 SECONDS · NO SIGNUP · ON-DEVICE

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HIGHEST-PAYING METROS

  1. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$112,950 · 320 jobs
  2. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$97,970 · 1,520 jobs
  3. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$93,090 · 1,280 jobs
  4. Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN$84,660 · 310 jobs
  5. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$78,760 · 260 jobs
  6. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$78,760 · 320 jobs
  7. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$61,160 · 250 jobs

LARGEST METROS

  1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$97,970 · 1,520 jobs
  2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$93,090 · 1,280 jobs
  3. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$112,950 · 320 jobs
  4. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$78,760 · 320 jobs
  5. Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN$84,660 · 310 jobs
  6. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$78,760 · 260 jobs
  7. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$61,160 · 250 jobs

ALL METROS (A–Z)

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Questions

What is the median Music Directors and Composers salary in the U.S.?

$73,710 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half earn $53,110–$104,090.

Where do Music Directors and Composers earn the most?

Highest metro medians: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($112,950), New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ($97,970), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($93,090). Cost of living differs, so compare offers locally.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025 (metro, state and national estimates). Employer filing counts: U.S. DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data FY2026 Q3, visa-sponsored positions only.