Music Directors and Composers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $104,010 or more. The middle half of music directors and composers in Chicago earn between $40,540 and $74,480.
- $35K10th
- $41K25th
- $51KMedian
- $74K75th
- $104K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,840 | $5,237 | $30.21 |
| Median | $50,530 | $4,211 | $24.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,540 | $3,378 | $19.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,480 | $6,207 | $35.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Music Directors and Composers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Music directors and composers in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($60,360) and 31% less than the U.S. average ($90,470). At the median the gap is -31% against the U.S. median of $73,710.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $62,840 | $50,530 | $34,790 | $104,010 | n/a |
| Illinois | $60,360 | $49,270 | $31,930 | $104,000 | n/a |
| United States | $90,470 | $73,710 | $39,880 | $165,760 | 12,540 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Music Directors and Composers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $62,840, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $49,702 a year, or $4,142 a month and $1,912 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $50,817 | $4,235 |
| Working in IL | $49,702 | $4,142 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for music directors and composers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $62,840 buys what about $60,659 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Music Directors and Composers salary in nearby metro areas
- Madison, WI$83,210
- Grand Rapids, MI$67,750
- Indianapolis, IN$94,900
- Dayton, OH$77,780
- Detroit, MI$62,630
- St. Louis, MO$66,450
Highest-paying cities for music directors and composers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($136,080).
- San Francisco, CA$136,080
- Las Vegas, NV$132,760
- Syracuse, NY$128,010
- Trenton, NJ$126,910
- New York, NY$120,330
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Music Directors and Composers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do music directors and composers make an hour in Chicago?
$30.21 an hour on average, and $24.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level music directors and composers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the music directors and composers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $49,702 a year ($4,142 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,840.
Do music directors and composers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% less than the U.S. average for this job ($90,470).
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; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.6%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.