Music Directors and Composers pay range in Indianapolis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $175,610 or more. The middle half of music directors and composers in Indianapolis earn between $55,470 and $127,800.
- $49K10th
- $55K25th
- $82KMedian
- $128K75th
- $176K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,900 | $7,908 | $45.62 |
| Median | $81,770 | $6,814 | $39.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,470 | $4,622 | $26.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $127,800 | $10,650 | $61.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Music Directors and Composers pay in Indianapolis vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Music directors and composers in Indianapolis earn 4% more than the Indiana average ($91,240) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($90,470). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $73,710.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $94,900 | $81,770 | $49,200 | $175,610 | 90 |
| Indiana | $91,240 | $77,270 | $47,480 | $175,610 | 200 |
| 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 Indianapolis
On the average salary of $94,900, a single filer in Indianapolis takes home about $70,878 a year, or $5,907 a month and $2,726 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Is Indianapolis a good place for music directors and composers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Indianapolis area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $94,900 buys what about $99,168 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Indianapolis ($49,340). A typical home costs $295,921, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Music Directors and Composers salary in nearby metro areas
- Cincinnati, OH$69,220
- Dayton, OH$77,780
- Chicago, IL$62,840
- Columbus, OH$69,030
- Grand Rapids, MI$67,750
- 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
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Music Directors and Composers salary in Indianapolis: questions
How much do music directors and composers make an hour in Indianapolis?
$45.62 an hour on average, and $39.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level music directors and composers salary in Indianapolis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the music directors and composers take-home pay in Indianapolis?
About $70,878 a year ($5,907 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,900. Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
Do music directors and composers earn more in Indianapolis than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more 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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN (26900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.6%.
- 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). Includes Indianapolis's local income tax (2.02%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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