Music directors and composers

Detailed Occupation

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2020 Workforce

37k

Average Age

47.7

Estimated Job Growth

1.72%

10-year projection

Average Salary

$43,944

Average Male Salary

$55,440

Average Female Salary

$26,817

About

Music directors and composers are most often employed by the Religious organizations industry. The average yearly wage for Music directors and composers was $43,944 in 2016. The top 3 most similar occupations to Music directors and composers by wage are Legal secretaries and administrative assistants, Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance, and Hazardous materials removal workers.

Music directors and composers are part of the Arts, design, entertainment, sports, & media occupations, along with Artists & related workers, Commercial and industrial designers, Fashion designers, Floral designers, Graphic designers, and 25 more.

The top 3 locations that employ the most Music directors and composers are LA City (Mount Washington, Highland Park & Glassell Park) PUMA, CA, LA City (Central/Hancock Park & Mid-Wilshire) PUMA, CA, and LA City (West Central/Westwood & West Los Angeles) PUMA, CA. The top 3 locations with a relatively high concentration of Music directors and composers are LA City (Central/Hancock Park & Mid-Wilshire) PUMA, CA, LA City (Mount Washington, Highland Park & Glassell Park) PUMA, CA, and LA City (Central/Pacific Palisades) PUMA, CA.

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Music directors and composers and on wages and locations for those in the field. Religious organizations is the industry that employs the most Music directors and composers, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Music directors and composers, by average wage, is Motion pictures & video industries. Music directors and composers are paid most in Upper West Side & West Side PUMA, NY but are relatively concentrated in LA City (Central/Hancock Park & Mid-Wilshire) PUMA, CA.

Yearly Wage

$43,944

AVERAGE SALARY

± $7,950

In 2020, Music directors and composers earned an average of $43,944, $12,010 less than than the average national salary of $55,954.

Hazardous materials removal workers make somewhat more than Music directors and composers while Legal secretaries and administrative assistants make somewhat less. This chart shows the various occupations closest to Music directors and composers as measured by average annual salary in the US.

Wage Distribution

0.565

WAGE GINI

In 2019, Music directors and composers had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.565, which is higher than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly for Music directors and composers (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

Wage by Location

HIGHEST PAYING PUMAS

This map shows the Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States shaded by average annual wage for Music directors and composers.

Spatial Concentration

PUMAs with a Relatively High Concentration of Music directors and composers

This map displays which Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States have a relatively high population of Music directors and composers.

Most Common

The most common industries employing Music directors and composers, by number of employees, are Religious organizations, Independent artists, writers, and performers, Performing arts companies, Sound recording industries, Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events, agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures, Spectator sports, Elementary & secondary schools, Motion pictures & video industries, Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges, Broadcasting (except internet), and Other schools & instruction and educational support services.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries for Music directors and composers, by average wage, are Motion pictures & video industries, Spectator sports, and Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events, agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures.

Industries by Share

37k

2020 Workforce

± 4,720

2.76%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 17.7%

The number of people employed as Music directors and composers has been growing at a rate of 2.76%, from 35,977 people in 2019 to 36,969 people in 2020.

This graphic shows the share of Music directors and composers employed by various industries. Religious organizations employs the largest share of Music directors and composers at 56.8%, followed by Independent artists, writers, and performers with 9.09% and Performing arts companies with 8.34%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Music directors and composers in the US. The average age of male Music directors and composers in the workforce is 45 and of female Music directors and composers is 51.6, and the most common race/ethnicity for Music directors and composers is White (Non-Hispanic).

Composition by Sex

22.1k

MALE WORKFORCE

± 3,651

14.8k

FEMALE WORKFORCE

± 2,991

59.8% of Music directors and composers are Male, making them the more common sex in the occupation. This chart shows the sex breakdown of Music directors and composers.

Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity of Music directors and composers

White (Non-Hispanic)
Black (Non-Hispanic)
Asian (Non-Hispanic)

76.3% of Music directors and composers are White (Non-Hispanic), making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 9.33% of Music directors and composers, Black (Non-Hispanic) is the second most common race or ethnicity in this occupation. This chart shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Music directors and composers.

Age by Sex

AVERAGE MALE AGE

± 2.76

51.6

AVERAGE FEMALE AGE

± 3.75

The median age of Music directors and composers is 47.7, and Male employees are generally 6.53 years younger than than their Female counterparts.

Education

Data on higher education choices for Music directors and composers from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Music directors and composers is Visual & Performing Arts but a relatively high number of Music directors and composers hold a major in Visual & Performing Arts.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

MOST COMMON MAJORS

MOST SPECIALIZED MAJORS

Projections

Projections on job growth for Music Directors and Composers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 3.71%, but Music Directors and Composers are expected to see a growth of 1.72% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow less than the national average.

Job Growth

1.72%

Estimated Job Growth

10-year Projection

3.71%

National Growth

10-year Projection

This line chart shows the projected 10-year growth in the number of jobs for Music Directors and Composers. This profession is expected to grow less than than 3.71%, the average rate of national job growth.