National Salary Info » Music Directors and Composers

Highest Paying Industries for Music Directors and Composers

The top 35 highest paying industries for music directors and composers (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $69,570, advertising, public relations, and related services is the highest paying industry for music directors and composers. It is followed by junior colleges - local government owned industry (average annual salary $61,050). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of music directors and composers in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 35 Highest Paying Industries for Music Directors and Composers

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$69,570	$42,250	30
2	Junior colleges - Local government owned	$61,050	$18,760	130
3	Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries	$60,720	$25,640	370
4	Junior Colleges (including private, state, and local government schools)	$56,880	$18,930	140
5	Performing Arts Companies	$56,870	$19,970	2,620
6	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$56,540	$36,390	150
7	Educational Services - State government owned	$55,930	$35,900	160
8	State government, including schools and hospitals	$55,680	$35,950	160
9	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$55,480	$20,100	3,060
10	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$55,030	$20,140	3,100
11	Sound Recording Industries	$54,860	$23,460	170
12	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$54,560	$41,090	40
13	Civic and Social Organizations	$54,380	$38,840	n/a
14	Information	$52,770	$22,140	710
15	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$51,510	$24,040	410
16	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$51,110	$31,600	9,650
17	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$51,020	$31,520	9,480
18	Educational Services - Local government owned	$50,640	$31,420	9,310
19	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Local government owned	$50,610	$31,480	9,190
20	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$49,670	$21,700	270
21	Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers	$49,620	$30,860	340
22	Elementary and Secondary Schools	$49,460	$27,570	12,120
23	Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters	$49,400	$25,060	340
24	Educational Services	$49,320	$27,020	12,900
25	Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events	$45,790	$18,670	70
26	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Privately owned	$45,520	$19,860	2,930
27	Educational Services - Privately owned	$45,180	$19,840	3,430
28	Radio and Television Broadcasting	$43,570	$19,390	300
29	Broadcasting (except Internet)	$43,570	$19,390	300
30	Radio Broadcasting	$40,730	$19,090	230
31	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations	$39,770	$18,980	4,900
32	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$39,770	$18,980	4,900
33	Religious Organizations	$39,240	$18,940	4,740
34	Other schools and instruction - Privately owned	$36,970	$18,200	230
35	Other Schools and Instruction	$36,970	$18,200	230