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Director of music salary
Average director of music salary
$48,096
Director of Music Salary Overview
The salary for a Director of Music varies based on several factors, including location, industry, and years of experience. Currently, the average annual salary is $48,096, translating to about $23 per hour. Directors in educational settings often earn differently than those in performing arts organizations or corporate environments.
Highest Paying Locations
Cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago offer competitive salaries for directors of music. States such as California and New York frequently report higher average salaries compared to others. As you consider your career path, researching these locations can provide insights into potential earnings.
Job Opportunities
Various industries require the expertise of music directors, including education, entertainment, and corporate training. Positions may involve curriculum development, performance organization, or even music therapy. Targeting jobs in these sectors can lead to rewarding opportunities.
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Where can a Director Of Music earn more?
Average director of music salary by state
The average director of music salary in Arizona, Nevada, and Texas are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average director of music salary states are Alabama, New Jersey, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for directors of music
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $60,576 | $29.12 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $55,066 | $26.47 |
| 3 | Arizona | $62,510 | $30.05 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | $55,051 | $26.47 |
| 5 | Tennessee | $54,238 | $26.08 |
| 6 | Texas | $57,606 | $27.70 |
| 7 | Mississippi | $52,568 | $25.27 |
| 8 | New York | $55,136 | $26.51 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $56,749 | $27.28 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $55,011 | $26.45 |
| 11 | Colorado | $54,700 | $26.30 |
| 12 | Arkansas | $53,552 | $25.75 |
| 13 | Utah | $54,469 | $26.19 |
| 14 | California | $56,157 | $27.00 |
| 15 | Florida | $54,399 | $26.15 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $55,629 | $26.74 |
| 17 | Georgia | $54,423 | $26.16 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $54,389 | $26.15 |
| 19 | Maine | $53,540 | $25.74 |
| 20 | Delaware | $54,793 | $26.34 |
| 21 | Virginia | $52,643 | $25.31 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $45,588 | $21.92 |
| 23 | Indiana | $46,873 | $22.54 |
| 24 | Idaho | $52,854 | $25.41 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $52,778 | $25.37 |
| 26 | Maryland | $50,380 | $24.22 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $41,148 | $19.78 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $40,867 | $19.65 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $52,716 | $25.34 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | $46,583 | $22.40 |
| 31 | Oregon | $44,220 | $21.26 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $40,160 | $19.31 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $45,586 | $21.92 |
| 34 | Ohio | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| 35 | Washington | $47,428 | $22.80 |
| 36 | Vermont | $41,150 | $19.78 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $42,748 | $20.55 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $44,579 | $21.43 |
| 39 | Missouri | $42,979 | $20.66 |
| 40 | Montana | $35,679 | $17.15 |
| 41 | Michigan | $40,048 | $19.25 |
| 42 | Alabama | $34,126 | $16.41 |
| 43 | Illinois | $36,210 | $17.41 |
| 44 | Alaska | $34,594 | $16.63 |
| 45 | New Jersey | $33,240 | $15.98 |
| 46 | Kansas | $32,969 | $15.85 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $36,234 | $17.42 |
| 48 | Iowa | $32,008 | $15.39 |
| 49 | Pennsylvania | $35,541 | $17.09 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $31,356 | $15.07 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $31,349 | $15.07 |
Highest paying cities for directors of music
The highest-paying cities for directors of music are Phoenix, AZ, Cupertino, CA, and Houston, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix, AZ | $62,449 | $30.02 |
| 2 | Cupertino, CA | $58,031 | $27.90 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $57,710 | $27.75 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $56,579 | $27.20 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $55,199 | $26.54 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $54,589 | $26.24 |
| 7 | Knoxville, TN | $54,149 | $26.03 |
| 8 | Miami, FL | $53,965 | $25.94 |
| 9 | Alexandria, VA | $53,273 | $25.61 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $52,752 | $25.36 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $50,502 | $24.28 |
| 12 | Indianapolis, IN | $46,999 | $22.60 |
| 13 | Boston, MA | $46,405 | $22.31 |
| 14 | Eugene, OR | $45,831 | $22.03 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $45,794 | $22.02 |
| 16 | Lincoln, NE | $44,854 | $21.56 |
| 17 | Kalamazoo, MI | $39,681 | $19.08 |
| 18 | Urbana, IL | $36,631 | $17.61 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $35,694 | $17.16 |
| 20 | North Bergen, NJ | $33,312 | $16.02 |
Director of music salary details
A director of music's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $84,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a director of music's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $84,000 | $7,000 | $40 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $48,096 | $4,008 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying director of music jobs
The highest paying types of directors of music are phlebotomy director, orchestra leader, and orchestra director.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band Director | $52,443 | $4,370 | $25.21 | 5,378 |
| Minister Of Music | $50,311 | $4,193 | $24.19 | 2,661 |
Top companies hiring directors of music now:
Which companies pay directors of music the most?
Director of music salaries at York Prep School and Valley Forge Military Academy & College are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of music salary at companies like Saint Xavier University and The Joffrey Ballet are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | York Prep School | $71,626 | $34.44 |
| 2 | Valley Forge Military Academy & College | $69,235 | $33.29 |
| 3 | Saint Xavier University | $68,816 | $33.08 |
| 4 | The Joffrey Ballet | $67,044 | $32.23 |
| 5 | UMiami Health System | $60,890 | $29.27 |
| 6 | University of Rochester | $57,716 | $27.75 |
| 7 | University of Nevada, Reno | $56,302 | $27.07 |
| 8 | Missouri Military Academy | $54,935 | $26.41 |
| 9 | University of Colorado Boulder | $54,772 | $26.33 |
| 10 | Live Nation Entertainment | $51,716 | $24.86 |
| 11 | iHeartMedia | $51,673 | $24.84 |
| 12 | St Pius X Catholic Church | $50,647 | $24.35 |
| 13 | tag | $50,474 | $24.27 |
| 14 | Salem Media Group | $50,151 | $24.11 |
| 15 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $50,001 | $24.04 |
| 16 | SoundCloud | $49,292 | $23.70 |
| 17 | Amuse Restaurant | $48,952 | $23.53 |
| 18 | University of Alaska | $47,937 | $23.05 |
| 19 | St. Martin's Episcopal Church | $47,754 | $22.96 |
| 20 | Johns Hopkins University | $47,479 | $22.83 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Director Of Music salary by industry
The average director of music salary varies across industries:
- The average director of music salary in the media industry is $46,172, the highest of any industry.
- The average director of music salary in the finance industry is $44,695.
- Directors of music in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $36,219, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for directors of music
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media | $46,172 | $22.20 |
| 2 | Education | $44,695 | $21.49 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $44,121 | $21.21 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $36,219 | $17.41 |
High paying director of music jobs
Director of music salary trends
The average director of music salary has risen by $4,455 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of music earned $43,641 annually, but today, they earn $48,096 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for directors of music over the last decade.
Compare director of music salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average director of music salary over time
Compare director of music salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Director of music salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $48,100 | $23.12 | +1.1% |
| 2025 | $47,600 | $22.87 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $45,700 | $21.96 | -1.9% |
| 2023 | $46,600 | $22.39 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $46,100 | $22.18 | +0.6% |
Recently added director of music salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | Director, Early Music Ensemble | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $18,000 |
| Burlington School District | Music Director for Best-Summer 2025 | Burlington, MA | 06/29/2025 | $36,000 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Music Director and Collaborative Pianist | Statesboro, GA | 06/22/2025 | $50,000 |
| The Village Presbyterian Church of Northbrook | Director of Traditional Music | Northbrook, IL | 06/21/2025 | $27,000 |
| Third Street Music School | Director of Music & Dance School | New York, NY | 06/21/2025 | $100,000 |
| St. Michael-Albertville School District | Musical Vocal Director (September Start Date) | Saint Michael, MN | 06/18/2025 | $52,908 |
| Lagrange Highlands School District 106 | Musical Director | Kane, IL | 06/17/2025 | $58,152 |
| Us Campuses | Music Director | Lake Forest, CA | 06/15/2025 | $70,000 |
| Georgia Southern University | Music Director | Statesboro, GA | 06/11/2025 | $50,000 |
| Stand Together | Director of Music Partnerships | Los Angeles, CA | 06/11/2025 | $150,000 |
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