Music Directors and Composers Salary

BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 30 reporting states. Tax year 2026.

Quick answer

According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median music directors and composers in the US earns $73,710 per year (12,540 employed). Gross pay is highest in New Jersey ($122,750) and lowest in Alabama ($42,250) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.

Music Directors and Composers pay by stategross median vs take-home

State	Median wage	After taxes	Monthly net	Kept	Employed
Music Directors and Composers in New Jersey	$122,750	$89,535	$7,461	72.9%	210
Music Directors and Composers in California	$93,090	$69,891	$5,824	75.1%	2,510
Music Directors and Composers in Colorado	$88,460	$67,878	$5,656	76.7%	160
Music Directors and Composers in Washington DC	$84,040	$63,777	$5,315	75.9%	140
Music Directors and Composers in New York	$82,930	$63,290	$5,274	76.3%	2,370
Music Directors and Composers in Utah	$82,570	$63,202	$5,267	76.5%	150
Music Directors and Composers in Tennessee	$79,640	$64,857	$5,405	81.4%	400
Music Directors and Composers in Wisconsin	$78,690	$61,398	$5,117	78%	200
Music Directors and Composers in Massachusetts	$78,620	$60,428	$5,036	76.9%	340
Music Directors and Composers in Indiana	$77,270	$60,940	$5,078	78.9%	200
Music Directors and Composers in Connecticut	$77,070	$60,385	$5,032	78.4%	120
Music Directors and Composers in Washington	$75,060	$61,635	$5,136	82.1%	260
Music Directors and Composers in Hawaii	$74,570	$57,153	$4,763	76.6%	90
Music Directors and Composers in Georgia	$67,100	$53,175	$4,431	79.2%	—
Music Directors and Composers in Texas	$65,570	$54,866	$4,572	83.7%	480
Music Directors and Composers in Maryland	$64,300	$51,154	$4,263	79.6%	160
Music Directors and Composers in North Carolina	$63,380	$51,086	$4,257	80.6%	200
Music Directors and Composers in Mississippi	$62,240	$50,432	$4,203	81%	40
Music Directors and Composers in Iowa	$61,740	$50,094	$4,174	81.1%	120
Music Directors and Composers in Missouri	$61,670	$49,771	$4,148	80.7%	60
Music Directors and Composers in Ohio	$61,380	$50,593	$4,216	82.4%	440
Music Directors and Composers in Pennsylvania	$61,160	$49,444	$4,120	80.8%	580
Music Directors and Composers in Oregon	$60,800	$46,542	$3,879	76.6%	500
Music Directors and Composers in Michigan	$59,400	$47,634	$3,970	80.2%	310
Music Directors and Composers in Virginia	$59,050	$47,045	$3,920	79.7%	370
Music Directors and Composers in Florida	$57,830	$48,646	$4,054	84.1%	570
Music Directors and Composers in Oklahoma	$54,250	$43,874	$3,656	80.9%	60
Music Directors and Composers in Montana	$51,530	$41,919	$3,493	81.3%	110
Music Directors and Composers in Illinois	$49,270	$39,474	$3,290	80.1%	—
Music Directors and Composers in Alabama	$42,250	$34,280	$2,857	81.1%	70

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