How To Become A Percussionist: What It Is and Career Path

What is a percussionist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

Gloria Lum

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a percussionist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $25.44 an hour? That's $52,924 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 6,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a percussionist?

Gloria Lum

Cello Instructor, Occidental College

Music has changed drastically in the past year due to the pandemic. Because it has not been possible to perform in person in front of groups, many musicians have learned how to use the online space to perform and teach. A recent graduate in the field of music also needs to understand how to operate their own business in the sense that they will most probably have a career that will consist of a combination of performing in some group or solo, teaching at a school or privately, and the willingness to do other jobs to help them round out their career.

ScorePercussionistUS Average

Salary

4.1

Avg. Salary $52,924

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.18%

Asian 5.40%

Black or African American 12.60%

Hispanic or Latino 12.73%

Unknown 5.07%

White 64.02%

Gender

female 10.94%

male 89.06%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Complexity level

9.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Key steps to become a percussionist

Explore percussionist education requirements

Most common percussionist degrees

Bachelor's

56.8 %

Master's

14.8 %

High School Diploma

13.1 %

Start to develop specific percussionist skills

Skills	Percentages
Wind Ensemble	56.83%
Musical Styles	22.55%
Individual Pieces	20.62%

Research percussionist duties and responsibilities

Accomplish placement in first group clarinet section.
Founder of various alternative rock groups-Multiple publish works-Regularly gain experience in songwriting, management, production, marketing, video and design
Collaborate with teachers and directors to assist in learning and memorization.

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