Composer demographics and statistics in the US
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Composer demographics by:
Composer gender statistics
20.2% of composers are women and 79.8% of composers are men.
- Male, 79.8%
- Female, 20.2%
Composer gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 79.8% |
| Female | 20.2% |
Composer gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$56,017
Female income
$53,839
Composer gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in composer positions over time. Currently, 20.2% of composers are female.
Composer gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 78.61% | 21.39% |
| 2011 | 77.71% | 22.29% |
| 2012 | 78.20% | 21.80% |
| 2013 | 79.67% | 20.33% |
| 2014 | 79.96% | 20.04% |
| 2015 | 79.78% | 20.22% |
| 2016 | 81.14% | 18.86% |
| 2017 | 79.21% | 20.79% |
| 2018 | 78.84% | 21.16% |
| 2019 | 84.36% | 15.64% |
| 2020 | 78.33% | 21.67% |
| 2021 | 79.82% | 20.18% |
Composer related jobs gender ratio
We compared composers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, 19d cavalry scout and baseball player have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Harpist | 8% | 92% |
| Actress | 8% | 92% |
| Modern Dancer | 8% | 92% |
| Composer | 80% | 20% |
| Assistant Varsity Football Coach | 98% | 2% |
| Baseball Player | 98% | 2% |
| 19D Cavalry Scout | 99% | 1% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Composer demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among composers is White, which makes up 74.7% of all composers. Comparatively, 9.5% of composers are Hispanic or Latino and 5.6% of composers are Black or African American.
- White, 74.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 9.5%
- Black or African American, 5.6%
- Asian, 5.3%
- Unknown, 4.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
Composer race
| Composer race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 74.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.5% |
| Black or African American | 5.6% |
| Asian | 5.3% |
| Unknown | 4.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.2% |
Composer race and ethnicity over time
See how composer racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Composer race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 77.34% | 10.58% | 3.77% | 6.32% |
| 2011 | 75.93% | 11.94% | 3.08% | 6.51% |
| 2012 | 76.24% | 11.27% | 2.94% | 6.65% |
| 2013 | 78.47% | 8.70% | 3.36% | 6.71% |
| 2014 | 74.43% | 10.96% | 4.06% | 7.94% |
| 2015 | 77.72% | 9.09% | 3.67% | 7.20% |
| 2016 | 77.77% | 9.60% | 3.56% | 6.69% |
| 2017 | 76.77% | 9.92% | 3.49% | 7.38% |
| 2018 | 84.16% | 7.44% | 2.48% | 3.44% |
| 2019 | 82.77% | 5.34% | 3.05% | 6.10% |
| 2020 | 73.57% | 8.40% | 4.51% | 7.99% |
| 2021 | 74.69% | 5.62% | 5.27% | 9.49% |
Composer wage gap by race
According to our data, hispanic or latino composers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american composers have the lowest average salary at $48,167.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $56,181 |
| White | $56,384 |
| Black or African American | $48,167 |
| Asian | $57,045 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $63,369 |
Composer age breakdown
The average age of composers is 40+ years years old, representing 56% of the composer population.
Composer age breakdown
| Composer Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 56% |
| 30-40 years | 24% |
| 20-30 years | 18% |
Composer educational attainment
The most common degree for composers is bachelor's degree, with 67% of composers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 13% and master's degree degree at 9%.
- Bachelor's, 67%
- Master's, 13%
- Associate, 9%
- High School Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 5%
Composers by degree level
| Composer degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 67% |
| Master's | 13% |
| Associate | 9% |
| High School Diploma | 6% |
| Other Degrees | 5% |
Composer jobs you might like
Composer wage gap by degree level
According to the data, composers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $82,047 annually. With a Master's degree, composers earn a median annual income of $55,095 compared to $54,885 for composers with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $55,095 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $54,885 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $82,047 |
Composer employment statistics
Most composers work for a private in the media industry.
Company size where composers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where composers work.
Composer jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 16% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 33% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 14% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 19% |
| > 10,000 employees | 12% |
Composer jobs by company type
Employees with the composer job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most composers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Composer jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 12% |
| Public | 14% |
| Private | 72% |
| Government | 1% |
Composer jobs by industry
The most common industries for composers are media, professional and education.
Composer industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Media | 18% |
| Professional | 12% |
| Education | 10% |
| Technology | 10% |
| Start-up | 8% |
| Fortune 500 | 6% |
| Non Profits | 5% |
| Health Care | 5% |
| Telecommunication | 4% |
| Internet | 4% |
| Retail | 3% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
Composer turnover and employment statistics
Composer unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for composers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Composer unemployment rate by year
| Year | Composer unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.36% |
| 2011 | 8.26% |
| 2012 | 8.21% |
| 2013 | 6.42% |
| 2014 | 6.38% |
| 2015 | 6.59% |
| 2016 | 4.13% |
| 2017 | 4.83% |
| 2018 | 2.83% |
| 2019 | 2.25% |
| 2020 | 6.04% |
| 2021 | 5.79% |
Average composer tenure
The average composer stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,141 composers resumes in Zippia's database.
Composer tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 22% |
| 1-2 years | 19% |
| 3-4 years | 11% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 9% |
| 11+ years | 23% |
Composer LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of composers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Pit Steward | 5.42% | 2,395 |
| Professional Volleyball Player | 6.54% | 49,831 |
| Athletics Assistant | 7.62% | 2,314 |
| Piano Player | 8.54% | 267 |
| Clairvoyant | 13.74% | 6 |
| Executive Producer | 14.31% | 74,007 |
| Composer | 30.45% | - |
Similar composer jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Pit Steward | 5.42% | 2,395 |
| Professional Volleyball Player | 6.54% | 49,831 |
| Athletics Assistant | 7.62% | 2,314 |
| Piano Player | 8.54% | 267 |
| Clairvoyant | 13.74% | 6 |
| Executive Producer | 14.31% | 74,007 |
Foreign languages spoken by composers
The most common foreign language among composers is Spanish at 30.8%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 19.2% and Italian is the third-most popular at 6.7%.
- Spanish, 30.8%
- French, 19.2%
- Italian, 6.7%
- German, 6.7%
- Japanese, 5.8%
- Other, 30.8%
Composer languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 30.8% |
| French | 19.2% |
| Italian | 6.7% |
| German | 6.7% |
| Japanese | 5.8% |
| Other | 30.8% |
