Music Directors and Composers pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $112,390 or more. The middle half of music directors and composers in Madison earn between $58,550 and $103,290.
- $44K10th
- $59K25th
- $80KMedian
- $103K75th
- $112K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,210 | $6,934 | $40.00 |
| Median | $79,870 | $6,656 | $38.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,550 | $4,879 | $28.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $103,290 | $8,608 | $49.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Music Directors and Composers pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Music directors and composers in Madison earn 8% less than the Wisconsin average ($90,360) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($90,470). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $73,710.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $83,210 | $79,870 | $43,630 | $112,390 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $90,360 | $78,690 | $43,630 | $177,040 | 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 Madison
On the average salary of $83,210, a single filer in Madison takes home about $63,937 a year, or $5,328 a month and $2,459 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for music directors and composers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $83,210 buys what about $85,530 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 5.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Music Directors and Composers salary in nearby metro areas
- Chicago, IL$62,840
- Grand Rapids, MI$67,750
- Des Moines, IA$63,820
- Indianapolis, IN$94,900
- St. Louis, MO$66,450
- Detroit, MI$62,630
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 Madison: questions
How much do music directors and composers make an hour in Madison?
$40.01 an hour on average, and $38.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level music directors and composers salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the music directors and composers take-home pay in Madison?
About $63,937 a year ($5,328 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,210.
Do music directors and composers earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 2.13, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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