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Job outlook for instrumental music teachers in the United States
Are instrumental music teacher jobs in demand?
Instrumental music teacher job and salary trends over time
Instrumental music teacher jobs over time
Instrumental music teacher job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 745 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 717 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 740 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 742 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 748 | 0.00% |
Average instrumental music teacher salary over time
Instrumental music teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,423 | $25.20 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | $52,303 | $25.15 | --0.6% |
| 2023 | $52,626 | $25.30 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | $50,347 | $24.21 | --2.5% |
| 2021 | $51,641 | $24.83 | +5.1% |
Instrumental music teacher jobs by state
Most common states for instrumental music teachers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 112 | 16% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 164 | 12% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 646 | 11% |
| 4 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 609 | 11% |
| 5 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,277 | 10% |
| 6 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 901 | 10% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 655 | 10% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 93 | 10% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 516 | 9% |
| 10 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 191 | 9% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 90 | 9% |
| 12 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 228 | 8% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 148 | 8% |
| 14 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 702 | 7% |
| 15 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 622 | 7% |
| 16 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 489 | 7% |
| 17 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 232 | 7% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 43 | 7% |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 815 | 6% |
| 20 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 595 | 6% |
Most common cities for instrumental music teachers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | 1 | 0% | $65,104 |
Instrumental Music Teacher job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of instrumental music teacher experts
Meredith College
Elmhurst College
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Fort Hays State University
Hope College
Idaho State University
Webster University
La Sierra University
Bates College
Augsburg University
Azusa Pacific University
Moravian College
University of Memphis
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Coastal Carolina University
Frostburg State University
Franklin and Marshall College
What general advice would you give to an Instrumental Music Teacher?
Dr. Micheal Houlahan Ph.D: People enjoy the opportunity to share their passion for music, inspire students, and make a positive impact on their lives. However, challenges such as budget cuts, limited resources, and administrative pressures can be drawbacks for some music educators.
What Instrumental Music Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Micheal Houlahan Ph.D: Music education is crucial for fostering creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression in students. With the growing recognition of the importance of arts education, there is a high demand for qualified music educators in schools and communities.
What will help Instrumental Music Teachers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Micheal Houlahan Ph.D: Music educators are responsible for teaching music theory, history, performance, and appreciation to students of all ages. They create lesson plans, conduct rehearsals, organize performances, and assess student progress. Those entering the field may start as student teachers or assistants, gradually gaining experience and expertise.
What general advice would you give to an Instrumental Music Teacher?
Dr. Jim Waddelow DMA: It depends on the age group. Many elementary teachers enjoy a typical school day of an hour before classes start and an after classes are released. Middle school and High school have more before/after school activities and weekend auditions, festivals, competitions, etc. Band directors have athletic events to plan and perform with the students that go beyond the normal M-F side of the job. Most of the teaching is the pedagogy of teaching the instrument--voice, band or orchestra. Teachers of beginners introduce the instrument, while teachers of older students refine the basics and take them to the next level.
What Instrumental Music Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jim Waddelow DMA: Many enjoy the flexibility of having summers open to travel or explore other interests--or just the downtime. Especially since many other entry-level professional jobs have far less paid time off, the trade-off of a smaller salary outweighs the lower wages that a teacher brings home each month. Many have to adjust to realize that there are many nights and weekends that come with a music teacher position. After all--this is when concerts and music festivals take place.
What will help Instrumental Music Teachers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jim Waddelow DMA: The entire profession is understaffed, as retirements and people leaving the profession outnumbers the number of folks entering the workforce. Our students have had a 100% job placement rate for over 15 years, and graduates may choose to work in any part of the country, as positions are plentiful everywhere.
What general advice would you give to an Instrumental Music Teacher?
Dr. William Raynovich: Make sure to keep contact with your peers and, perhaps more importantly, with your faculty mentors. These contacts are valuable resources for you finding a job. Most of the students I have known who are fulfilled by their careers had a good relationship with their peers and faculty. Students, who worked with me through their matriculation, will reach out to me at times for advice in navigating their first jobs. As a music educator assuredly went to an institution of higher learning, the music educator should capitalize on the relationships built during their education.
What Instrumental Music Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. William Raynovich: As technology continues to be a strong component of our society, music educators need to consider innovation when teaching music. The schooling I had may become less relevant and the schooling even the students of ten years ago may be less relevant to the public school education of the next 3-5 years. We have accelerated the changes in music over the past 100 years with startling changes. From the radio to the walkman to the iPod to the streaming and the use of electronics to create music has changed music to the point that the band, choir, or orchestra of even twenty years ago may not be the music-making in a public school in 2025.
What will help Instrumental Music Teachers increase their earning potential?
Dr. William Raynovich: Well, I would recommend one does not think of maximizing a salary when thinking of a career as a music educator. One should maximize life-design when being a music educator. One should ask oneself: Are you going to be happy teaching music in a public school setting? Do you enjoy two months off in the summer? Are you fulfilled in life? There are opportunities to advance in the public school system, but often, I believe, the music educator has to become an administrator which requires attaining graduate degrees in Education Leadership to become an administrator. However, all music educators probably know this, but it is standard for public school systems to expect and encourage teachers to receive additional education through at least a master’s degree. With the master’s degree, the teacher should receive salary increase. The process for salary increases is often clearly scheduled via the contract the music educator’s teacher’s union negotiated with the school district.
What general advice would you give to an Instrumental Music Teacher?
Dianne Goldman Ph.D.: Being a Music Educator requires a person to wear many different 'hats' during a given week - instructor/teacher, recruiter, fundraiser, performer, therapist, promoter, conductor, etc. All of these roles are needed to make sure a program is successful.
What Instrumental Music Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dianne Goldman Ph.D.: This is a good time to enter the field of Music Education as people with this degree are more likely to land a teaching position than they were even a few years ago. In addition, such educators are needed to address some of the challenges students have recently faced.
What will help Instrumental Music Teachers increase their earning potential?
Dianne Goldman Ph.D.: People entering the field often find this a rewarding job because they have a lot of input to what happens to their program and can directly affect student outcomes. Student musicians are often sensitive souls that need nurturing and support and find it in the figure of their music teacher.
Darryl Coan
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Music
What general advice would you give to an Instrumental Music Teacher?
Darryl Coan: Being a music educator means long days and much dedication to the growth of your students while safeguarding from the usual school budget problems, so it really is a career and not just a job. That level of involvement isn’t for everyone and they leave the field but for most, the great rewards that come both daily and yearly in the musical growth and gratitude of your students keep that dedication strong and growing.
What will help Instrumental Music Teachers increase their earning potential?
Darryl Coan: Right away, a music educator becomes the musical mentor of all the students in their care. Effective music educators engage their students at every level in all aspects of musical activity—singing, playing, listening, creating and critiquing. In the big picture, this means intentionally improving their ability to do these independently. On a daily basis, this involves planning, creating and assessing musical experience through the various school opportunities such as band, choir, guitar class, and other contexts.
What general advice would you give to an Instrumental Music Teacher?
Bradley Dawson: If it is in music education, they need to be careful of what their responsibilities will be. Many smaller schools are requiring one person to do all the music, K-12. This may or may not be what the new graduate wants. If their degree is in performance, then they need to locate to large city and begin making connections with other musicians that are already performing in the area they are interested in. Classical players will want to apply for orchestra auditions and be prepared to go to many before finally winning a job. The competition is tremendous and will require much preparation and tenacity.
What Instrumental Music Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Bradley Dawson: Students studying music should be diverse in what they can play and teach. The narrower that you focus the harder it will be to find a job with no teaching experience. Go to a school where you can define yourself. Play and sing in as many different ensembles as you can and find out what are your strengths and weaknesses. Knowing this and developing your best skills will help you determine what job is best for you.
What will help Instrumental Music Teachers increase their earning potential?
Bradley Dawson: If you are going into education, it is best to get a master’s degree. When to get it is an important decision. If you teach for a while and start a family it becomes more difficult to go back to school so there is an advantage to getting that degree right after your bachelor’s degree.
What general advice would you give to an Instrumental Music Teacher?
Jeffrey Doebler Ph.D.: The arts are a basic human need. Especially during this time of turmoil in our world, we need musicians and other artists to help us create and share beauty. Also, many jobs in the music industry are entrepreneurial; musicians with initiative can create their own paths.
What Instrumental Music Teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jeffrey Doebler Ph.D.: LIKE As musicians, we have the privilege of creating and sharing beauty every day! We love to share music with the general public in the many ways I described in question #1. DISLIKE Some people don't understand the value of music and the other arts. If that happens, musicians can be overlooked and underpaid.
What will help Instrumental Music Teachers increase their earning potential?
Jeffrey Doebler Ph.D.: The music field is much more broad than many people realize. Music graduates of Valparaiso University are doing these things... a. music teacher in K-12 school (band, orchestra, choir, general music, handbell choir) b. music therapist c. church musician (organ, choir, soloist, chamber musician) d. university professor (music education, music theory, music performance, music history, administration) e. private lessons teacher f. professional performer (military band, symphony orchestra, professional chorus, soloist, chamber musician, jazz). g. music industry (retail, sales, repairs) h. music industry (concert management, concert hall management, performance planning, music travel planning) i. law (copyright and more) j. community volunteer musician k. recording engineer l. composer (schools, churches, professional organizations, movies, television, video games)
Dr. Christopher Fashun
Assistant Professor of MusicHope College
Music Department
What skills stand out on Instrumental Music Teacher resumes?
Dr. Christopher Fashun: 1. Must have completed a doctorate in the specific field of the job they are applying for (e.g., Music Performance (a specific instrument), Conducting (Choral, Orchestral, Band), Musicology, Ethnomusicology, Music Education, Recording Arts, Music Theory, Music Composition, Music Therapy)
2. Must have teaching experience at the college/university level and preferably at the secondary level. For graduate students, having a teaching or research assistantship would be ideal for gaining college/university teaching experience.
3. Need good communication skills and know-how to work and collaborate with others.
4. Need to have an area of scholarship and creativity (e.g., writing a book, recording an album, guest conducting a professional orchestra or another musical group)
5. Need to understand Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, why it's important, and how to incorporate it into one's teaching.
6. Salaries vary from college/university and are set by years of experience and accomplishments. Salaries are negotiated upon receiving an offer and cannot be renegotiated after signing a contract.
7. Other skills include being innovative, having at least one other skill set in the broader field of music. Using myself as an example, my doctorate is in Orchestral Conducting, but I also am a nationally recognized Music Educator and Percussionist who has earned a Fulbright Award in the U.S. Scholar Program (a very prestigious award), where my other area of scholarship is Afro-Brazilian Music and Culture. In addition to conducting the orchestra at Hope College, I teach a World Music class for the general education program, music education methods courses, direct the Brazilian Drumming Ensemble, and teach applied percussion.
Dr. Thomas Kloss
Associate Professor & Associate Chair of the Department of Music, nterim Director of Bands, Coordinator for Music Education, President of the Idaho Music Educators AssociationIdaho State University
Department of Music
What skills stand out on Instrumental Music Teacher resumes?
Dr. Thomas Kloss: One of the strongest skills is showing a future principal that you've been a good student. They will look at your transcripts and see how you've done in the areas in which you are applying. A band director, for example, that scores low on an "Instrumental Music Pedagogy" course (the course that primarily teaches you how to be a band director) would not stand out as a strong instrumental music teacher. Showing a future principal that you've been involved in many aspects of your musical ensembles in college, working with a local music program, or have done some private music teaching are also good indicators of someone who will be successful in that position.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instrumental Music Teachers?
Dr. Thomas Kloss: Music teachers need to be extremely organized and knowledgeable in musical concepts to write quality lesson plans. They need to be able to see the whole picture (i.e., the concert) and know the steps of how to get their students ready. They need to be able to communicate rehearsal dates, events, and concerts with their community. They need to work with inventory lists, music in their library and know what their next equipment needs are. They need to budget their funds for new music, instruments, uniforms, or just repairs. It tends to be a lot of work before you even get in front of a musical ensemble.
What skills will help Instrumental Music Teachers earn the most?
Dr. Thomas Kloss: Being patient when looking for a position may help someone earn more over the length of their career. The way it works here is that small rural districts end up paying more after about 10 years over the districts in populated areas. It's a supply and demand situation. If a music teacher is interested in making more money over their teaching career, they should compare the posted salary schedules and consider the long-term benefits. Obtaining a Master's Degree is also a way to move up on the traditional pay scale in education. Finally, staying in one district for a longer period is more financially beneficial than moving districts every few years. Teachers are given some years of experience, but a district does not have to give all of their years on their pay scale.
Matt Pickart
Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Chamber MusicWebster University
Department of Music
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instrumental Music Teachers?
Matt Pickart: Excellent musicianship, effective and high-quality practicing, music entrepreneurship, clear pedagogical knowledge and insights, owning the stage, effective programming, historical context and cultural awareness in music, physical awareness and efficiency in music-making, music technology, knowing your audience, etc.
David Kendall Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Music, Associate Chair, Director of Music History and ResearchLa Sierra University
Department of Music
What skills will help Instrumental Music Teachers earn the most?
David Kendall Ph.D.: Being very good at what you do is the first step in being successful in the music field, but it is not a guarantee of earning potential. The soft and hard skills noted above are at least as important, if not more so. Only a handful of the very best musicians in the world can get away with being disorganized, hard to work with, or unreliable. For the rest of us, financial success will largely depend on a combination of performing and/or teaching ability, the ability to use technology and media to our advantage, and a talent for working well with a wide range of people.
Joelle Morris
Visiting Lecturer, Director of Bates College Choir, Associate in VoiceBates College
Music Department
What soft skills should all Instrumental Music Teachers possess?
Joelle Morris: Effective and clear communication - many musical concepts need to be broken down into smaller, more understandable units. The ability to connect with students at their level of understanding is incredibly important.
Constructive feedback. No need to be Pollyanna. However, I am exceedingly glad the days of strict, overbearing, and sometimes abusive 'maestros' are no longer tolerated. Students learn so much better with clear, constructive criticism. Being able to point out what students can improve on while praising them on the skills they've already refined fosters a positive learning environment for all.
Motivation. It's a difficult balance because students have to find their own self-motivation. However, as a musician, I try to show my students by example. I talk to them about my own practice schedule, how much I rehearse and collaborate with other musicians. That these skills do not come easily but with diligence, discipline, and practice. As an educator, my job is to continue fostering a love and interest in music for myself and my students.
J. Anthony Allen
Assistant Professor - Music, Media and ManagementAugsburg University
Music, Media and Management Department
What skills stand out on Instrumental Music Teacher resumes?
J. Anthony Allen: Technology. First and foremost.
Not only because we are in the age of "are we online or are we not online," but because using technology in-studio lessons can be very, very beneficial. For example, having a lesson that you can record (audio and/or video) for the student to review while practicing to help that student stay on track. In addition to that, using notation software shared documents, and other online resources can really help a student learn.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Instrumental Music Teachers?
J. Anthony Allen: In addition to the obvious: Being really good on your instrument and teaching it well, the next would be the technology stuff I mentioned above.
Dr. Claire Fedoruk
Professor of MusicologyAzusa Pacific University
College of Music and Arts
What type of skills will young Instrumental Music Teachers need?
Dr. Claire Fedoruk: In the new environment, recording and mastering skills may be the new requirement for any performer. I'm sure that sound engineers will experience a Renaissance of employment in this post-pandemic world! Young musicians are already much more tech-savvy than those in middle age, so this may not be an issue, and at APU, our music technology courses are first-rate and teach all of these skills through Logic, Pro Tools, etc. Additionally, I believe that writing is a skill that can never harm a musician, especially as they may need extra funding from grants to complete projects or hire additional personnel to handle online recording and performances, COVID compliant initiatives, etc. Flexibility, patience, and perseverance are highly sought-after traits and playing well with others, both literally and figuratively.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Instrumental Music Teacher job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Neil Wetzel: There are so many DIFFERENT types of jobs for music majors, so I will try to address a few types. For jobs in music education, I believe that most schools and districts will try to maintain and return to the status quo. Once they can meet face-to-face again, students will flock back to playing real instruments and sing in large groups.
For performers, the pandemic has profoundly curtailed opportunities and performing musicians everywhere are hurting. While some have moved to totally virtual performances, this cannot fully replace the feel, sound or excitement of being in the same space as live performers. Once the pandemic is over, I think that clubs, music rooms, concert halls, etc. will fill up with people wanting to get out of their homes and go back to entertainment venues that feature live music.
The music technology field and the programs that prepare students for careers in audio production and recording have grown over the past ten years. I believe that this will continue on the same growth trajectory. Many venues such as churches, schools, businesses, need equipment, installation and maintenance of equipment related to audio and broadcast capabilities. Some of these users of sound (and video) technology will continue some of their online presence even after the pandemic ends. The pandemic will have changed the way many entities conduct their business and it will never go back to fully face-to-face, especially in this field.
How have salaries changed over time for Instrumental Music Teachers?
Dr. Neil Wetzel: Very few people go into music to make a lot of money. That said, salaries for music educators have kept up with inflation, and a job in a public school comes with benefits (health insurance and some kind of retirement plan). Performers at the very top of the field have done fairly well. While the top jobs in symphony orchestras and in the pop music field pay very well, those jobs are the equivalent of playing major league baseball. Only the very best make it to that level, and there are a finite number (and not very many) of these types of jobs.
For the gigging, weekend musician that plays weddings, parties, and other events, salaries have gone up but many have not kept pace with inflation. Many of my jazz musician friends are still working for $100 for a three-hour jazz gig. This pay scale has not gone up much over the past 15-20 years. Please note that musicians playing in party/cover bands generally get paid better if they live/work in large metropolitan areas like New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, etc.
For those working in audio/music technology fields, salaries are better if you can own/administer your own business. This field often employs young, eager persons that have a passion for the craft. The pay may not be great and work not always steady, but it can be a stepping stone to gain experience and help one to start their own company/business.
What soft skills should all Instrumental Music Teachers possess?
Robyn Jones: Adaptability-this was proven to be necessary across many different careers, with the need to switch to a virtual format. Diversity of skills-it's not enough anymore to just play a great audition and get a job in an orchestra. Musicians need to be great players, great teachers, self-promoters, entrepreneurs, possess marketing/advertising skills. They need to be self-motivated and creative thinkers as they find their career path.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Instrumental Music Teacher job market given the pandemic?
Timothy Fischer: The ability to record, mix, and transfer audio at a professional level from the home recording studio. Performance opportunities during the COVID-era have temporarily diminished; utilizing this time to develop familiarity with recording technology and music production is so important. Professional musicians have had to develop familiarity in this area "overnight" to continue to have opportunities to perform. Students who can attend music programs that help them develop in these areas will be ready for the current as well as future music industry.
Jacob Dalager
LecturerFrostburg State University
Department of Music
What technical skills for an Instrumental Music Teacher stand out to employers?
Jacob Dalager: Coronavirus has definitely increased the technical and entrepreneurial requirements to be a musician. Musicians must now know how to livestream, record professional video and audio, manage social media feeds, and build effective websites. Those are all things you need to get your name out there and build your reputation. Employers are still lagging in those trends, however, and most are still looking for the same things they have always wanted: organizational skills, effective communication, affability, and musicianship.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Instrumental Music Teacher job market given the pandemic?
Rusty Banks: Honestly, if the pandemic gets under control, not much will be different. During the pandemic, lots of things moved online. That's been good in some ways; lots of people were able to "attend" things they wouldn't have been able to otherwise. But interest in streamed concerts seems to be waning. People will be hungry to return to live events.
The most notable thing I've noticed is a lot of performers have become more comfortable running streaming technology. I think after the pandemic we'll still see concerts streamed even if intended for a live audience.
Another effect this has had on the industry is showing that more decisions need to be made and more structure put in place for licensing works to be performed over streaming services.