Music Directors and Composers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $144,110 or more. The middle half of music directors and composers in Washington earn between $56,040 and $124,790.
- $43K10th
- $56K25th
- $79KMedian
- $125K75th
- $144K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $89,970 | $7,498 | $43.25 |
| Median | $78,760 | $6,563 | $37.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,040 | $4,670 | $26.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $124,790 | $10,399 | $60.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Music Directors and Composers pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Music directors and composers in Washington earn 8% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($97,530) and about the same as the U.S. average ($90,470). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $73,710.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $89,970 | $78,760 | $42,910 | $144,110 | 320 |
| Washington, D.C. | $97,530 | $84,040 | $39,310 | $159,250 | 140 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $89,970, a single filer in Washington takes home about $67,445 a year, or $5,620 a month and $2,594 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $68,892 | $5,741 |
| Working in MD | $68,062 | $5,672 |
| Working in VA | $67,765 | $5,647 |
| Working in DC | $67,445 | $5,620 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for music directors and composers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $89,970 buys what about $82,629 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Music Directors and Composers salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$80,460
- Richmond, VA$85,330
- Lancaster, PA$81,330
- Philadelphia, PA$74,270
- Virginia Beach, VA$70,670
- Pittsburgh, PA$77,890
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 Washington: questions
How much do music directors and composers make an hour in Washington?
$43.26 an hour on average, and $37.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level music directors and composers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the music directors and composers take-home pay in Washington?
About $67,445 a year ($5,620 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $89,970.
Do music directors and composers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.4%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.26, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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