Music Directors and Composers: Job Description
Conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical artists or groups, such as orchestras, bands, choirs, and glee clubs; or create original works of music.
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What Do Music Directors and Composers Do?
The core tasks performed by music directors and composers include:
- Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
- Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
- Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
- Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
- Consider such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
- Determine voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.
- Experiment with different sounds, and types and pieces of music, using synthesizers and computers as necessary to test and evaluate ideas.
- Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.
What Music Directors and Composers Need to Know
Effective music directors and composers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Music Directors and Composers Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Arranger
- Artistic Director
- Band Director
- Band Leader
- Band Master
- Children's Choir Director
- Choir Director
- Choir Leader
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 170,107 music directors and composers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +6.4% over the projection horizon.
Music Directors and Composers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $66,915 |
| Hourly median | $32.17 |
| 10th percentile | $47,433 |
| 25th percentile | $57,174 |
| 75th percentile | $76,656 |
| 90th percentile | $86,397 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $91,810 |
| New York | $80,230 |
| Utah | $78,010 |
| Washington | $77,840 |
| Hawaii | $77,440 |
| California | $74,760 |
| Wisconsin | $73,580 |
| Massachusetts | $72,760 |
| Indiana | $71,640 |
| Colorado | $69,160 |
| Oklahoma | $66,650 |
| Oregon | $62,400 |
| Minnesota | $61,830 |
| North Carolina | $61,780 |
| Georgia | $61,270 |
| Ohio | $60,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,410 |
| Mississippi | $60,250 |
| Missouri | $58,640 |
| Maryland | $57,740 |
| Florida | $57,350 |
| Iowa | $56,720 |
| Alaska | $55,810 |
| Texas | $51,380 |
| South Carolina | $49,890 |
| Virginia | $49,670 |
| Montana | $48,530 |
| Illinois | $46,310 |
| Michigan | $42,030 |
| Kentucky | $41,870 |
| South Dakota | $36,990 |
| Alabama | $32,370 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for music directors and composers vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $73,313 | 28.8% | 1.86 |
| Middle Atlantic | $60,678 | 22.6% | 1.70 |
| New England | $57,349 | 4.8% | 1.82 |
| Plains States | $56,193 | 3.1% | 0.91 |
| Great Lakes | $55,608 | 13.2% | 0.93 |
| Rocky Mountains | $54,969 | 3.5% | 1.28 |
| Southwest | $53,237 | 6.2% | 0.60 |
| Southeast | $37,048 | 17.9% | 1.28 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Music Directors and Composers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $114,290 | 40 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | PA | $104,000 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $97,980 | 1,050 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $96,430 | 50 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | WA | $94,020 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $92,930 | 480 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | CT | $91,440 | 40 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | CO | $86,740 | 30 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of music directors and composers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 5,100 | $72,530 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 3,550 | $60,510 |
| Educational Services | 2,220 | $56,850 |
| Information | 1,200 | n/a |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 50 | $55,810 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for music directors and composers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Education and Training
Entry-level music directors and composers positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (Supplemental)
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education (Supplemental)
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Art Directors (Primary-Long)
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (Supplemental)
- Actors (Supplemental)
- Producers and Directors (Primary-Short)
- Media Programming Directors (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for music directors and composers commonly pursue programs in:
Visual and Performing Arts
10 programs across 3 majors
Theology and Religious Vocations
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 27-2041.00 (Music Directors and Composers).
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