Top 15 cities for music directors and composers by average salary
| San Francisco, CA | $136,080 |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | $132,760 |
| Syracuse, NY | $128,010 |
| Trenton, NJ | $126,910 |
| New York, NY | $120,330 |
| Hartford, CT | $115,300 |
| San Diego, CA | $112,260 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $103,350 |
| Dallas, TX | $101,160 |
| Sacramento, CA | $98,430 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $97,300 |
| Charlotte, NC | $95,730 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $94,900 |
| Providence, RI | $94,670 |
| Boston, MA | $91,800 |
Map: Music Directors and Composers salary by metro area
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Music Directors and Composers salary by state
New Jersey pays music directors and composers the most statewide, $133,540 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $133,540 | $122,750 | 210 | 1 | $126,910 | $126,910 |
| Nevada | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $132,760 | $132,760 |
| California | $108,530 | $93,090 | 2,510 | 5 | $136,080 | $60,320 |
| New York | $105,520 | $82,930 | 2,370 | 5 | $128,010 | $66,130 |
| Connecticut | $105,300 | $77,070 | 120 | 1 | $115,300 | $115,300 |
| Washington, D.C. | $97,530 | $84,040 | 140 | 1 | $89,970 | $89,970 |
| Rhode Island | n/a | n/a | 150 | 1 | $94,670 | $94,670 |
| Massachusetts | $93,170 | $78,620 | 340 | 1 | $91,800 | $91,800 |
| Colorado | $92,810 | $88,460 | 160 | 1 | $97,300 | $97,300 |
| Indiana | $91,240 | $77,270 | 200 | 1 | $94,900 | $94,900 |
| Wisconsin | $90,360 | $78,690 | 200 | 1 | $83,210 | $83,210 |
| Oklahoma | $88,420 | $54,250 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington | $87,600 | $75,060 | 260 | 1 | $88,000 | $88,000 |
| Hawaii | $87,060 | $74,570 | 90 | 1 | $82,790 | $82,790 |
| Texas | $85,750 | $65,570 | 480 | 2 | $101,160 | $85,970 |
| North Carolina | $84,340 | $63,380 | 200 | 2 | $95,730 | $75,690 |
| Utah | $83,970 | $82,570 | 150 | 1 | $80,470 | $80,470 |
| Maryland | $80,120 | $64,300 | 160 | 1 | $80,460 | $80,460 |
| Virginia | $79,160 | $59,050 | 370 | 2 | $85,330 | $70,670 |
| Pennsylvania | $74,570 | $61,160 | 580 | 5 | $81,330 | $74,270 |
| Georgia | $74,460 | $67,100 | n/a | 1 | $71,230 | $71,230 |
| Ohio | $73,880 | $61,380 | 440 | 5 | $83,130 | $56,620 |
| Missouri | $72,810 | $61,670 | 60 | 1 | $66,450 | $66,450 |
| Tennessee | $70,240 | $79,640 | 400 | 1 | $70,630 | $70,630 |
| Oregon | $69,590 | $60,800 | 500 | 2 | $65,380 | $64,990 |
| Michigan | $68,810 | $59,400 | 310 | 2 | $67,750 | $62,630 |
| Iowa | $66,750 | $61,740 | 120 | 1 | $63,820 | $63,820 |
| Florida | $64,800 | $57,830 | 570 | 4 | $69,400 | $56,250 |
| Mississippi | $63,380 | $62,240 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois | $60,360 | $49,270 | n/a | 1 | $62,840 | $62,840 |
| Montana | $56,230 | $51,530 | 110 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Alabama | $51,980 | $42,250 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
Music Directors and Composers salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $136,080 | $112,950 | $65.42 | 320 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $132,760 | $82,920 | $63.83 | n/a |
| Syracuse, NY | $128,010 | $140,230 | $61.55 | 120 |
| Trenton, NJ | $126,910 | $115,400 | $61.01 | 30 |
| New York, NY | $120,330 | $97,970 | $57.85 | 1,520 |
| Hartford, CT | $115,300 | $71,850 | $55.43 | 40 |
| San Diego, CA | $112,260 | $74,270 | $53.97 | 170 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $103,350 | $93,090 | $49.69 | 1,280 |
| Dallas, TX | $101,160 | $76,700 | $48.64 | 130 |
| Sacramento, CA | $98,430 | $94,700 | $47.32 | 110 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $97,300 | $104,690 | $46.78 | 40 |
| Charlotte, NC | $95,730 | $67,590 | $46.02 | 40 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $94,900 | $81,770 | $45.62 | 90 |
| Providence, RI | $94,670 | $64,250 | $45.52 | 150 |
| Boston, MA | $91,800 | $78,760 | $44.14 | 260 |
| Washington, DC | $89,970 | $78,760 | $43.26 | 320 |
| Seattle, WA | $88,000 | $75,030 | $42.31 | 190 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $87,610 | $61,670 | $42.12 | 100 |
| Rochester, NY | $86,610 | $84,130 | $41.64 | 180 |
| Houston, TX | $85,970 | $63,440 | $41.33 | 110 |
| Richmond, VA | $85,330 | $57,860 | $41.02 | 40 |
| Madison, WI | $83,210 | $79,870 | $40.01 | 70 |
| Cleveland, OH | $83,130 | $74,370 | $39.97 | 100 |
| Honolulu, HI | $82,790 | $69,330 | $39.80 | 70 |
| Lancaster, PA | $81,330 | $71,100 | $39.10 | 40 |
| Scranton, PA | $81,010 | $73,610 | $38.95 | 40 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $80,470 | $82,570 | $38.69 | 100 |
| Baltimore, MD | $80,460 | $64,300 | $38.68 | 110 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $77,890 | $57,650 | $37.45 | 90 |
| Dayton, OH | $77,780 | $63,850 | $37.40 | 30 |
| Allentown, PA | $75,820 | $71,800 | $36.45 | 40 |
| Raleigh, NC | $75,690 | $58,570 | $36.39 | 40 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $74,270 | $61,160 | $35.71 | 250 |
| Atlanta, GA | $71,230 | $64,440 | $34.25 | n/a |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $70,670 | $55,130 | $33.98 | 100 |
| Nashville, TN | $70,630 | $84,660 | $33.96 | 310 |
| Miami, FL | $69,400 | $60,500 | $33.37 | 130 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $69,220 | $63,290 | $33.28 | 70 |
| Columbus, OH | $69,030 | $58,490 | $33.19 | 60 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $67,750 | $65,190 | $32.57 | 60 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $66,500 | $60,000 | $31.97 | 30 |
| St. Louis, MO | $66,450 | $61,670 | $31.95 | 40 |
| Binghamton, NY | $66,130 | $40,500 | $31.80 | 40 |
| Portland, OR | $65,380 | $66,800 | $31.43 | 160 |
| Salem, OR | $64,990 | $56,730 | $31.25 | n/a |
| Des Moines, IA | $63,820 | $61,740 | $30.68 | 70 |
| Orlando, FL | $63,130 | $59,720 | $30.35 | 70 |
| Chicago, IL | $62,840 | $50,530 | $30.21 | n/a |
| Detroit, MI | $62,630 | $52,900 | $30.11 | 120 |
| Fresno, CA | $60,320 | $46,960 | $29.00 | 40 |
| Akron, OH | $56,620 | $51,530 | $27.22 | 40 |
| Tampa, FL | $56,250 | $49,150 | $27.04 | 130 |
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Music Directors and Composers salary: questions
Where do music directors and composers make the most money?
In San Francisco, CA, with an average of $136,080 a year, among the 52 metro areas we cover.
What is the average music directors and composers salary in the U.S.?
$90,470 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $73,710, so half of music directors and composers earn more than that and half less.
What salary should music directors and composers ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of music directors and composers nationwide earn between $53,110 (25th percentile) and $104,090 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays music directors and composers the most?
New Jersey, with a statewide average of $133,540 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is music directors and composers pay the lowest?
Tampa, FL, at $56,250 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-2041.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.