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Instrumental music teacher salary
Average instrumental music teacher salary
$52,423
Understanding Instrumental Music Teacher Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for an Instrumental Music Teacher stands at $52,423 per year, or approximately $25 per hour. However, this average can differ widely depending on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the educational institution type.
Salary Variances by State
In certain states, Instrumental Music Teachers earn significantly higher salaries. For example, states like California and New York typically offer higher compensation due to their cost of living and demand for music education. Conversely, rural areas may present lower salary averages. For anyone considering this career, researching state-specific salary data is essential.
Career Advancement Opportunities
In addition to salaries, many educational institutions provide benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development. Those who pursue advanced degrees or certifications can often command higher salaries and take on more specialized roles within music education.
Explore the various job openings and salary ranges in your area to find the best opportunities in the field of music education.
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Where can an Instrumental Music Teacher earn more?
Instrumental music teacher salary estimates from across the web
Average instrumental music teacher salary by state
The highest-paying states for instrumental music teachers are Massachusetts, Michigan, and Connecticut. The lowest average instrumental music teacher salary states are Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for instrumental music teachers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $67,472 | $32.44 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $74,630 | $35.88 |
| 3 | New York | $65,559 | $31.52 |
| 4 | Virginia | $63,092 | $30.33 |
| 5 | Maryland | $56,179 | $27.01 |
| 6 | Oregon | $62,681 | $30.14 |
| 7 | Idaho | $56,427 | $27.13 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $65,840 | $31.65 |
| 9 | Texas | $53,079 | $25.52 |
| 10 | California | $62,346 | $29.97 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $52,134 | $25.06 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $51,179 | $24.61 |
| 13 | Delaware | $52,152 | $25.07 |
| 14 | Nebraska | $51,435 | $24.73 |
| 15 | Indiana | $49,828 | $23.96 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $50,427 | $24.24 |
| 17 | Washington | $56,868 | $27.34 |
| 18 | Alabama | $51,991 | $25.00 |
| 19 | Alaska | $56,064 | $26.95 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $52,385 | $25.19 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $48,698 | $23.41 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $53,747 | $25.84 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $49,737 | $23.91 |
| 25 | Illinois | $47,666 | $22.92 |
| 26 | Florida | $47,916 | $23.04 |
| 27 | Arizona | $50,664 | $24.36 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $49,999 | $24.04 |
| 29 | Colorado | $45,598 | $21.92 |
| 30 | Montana | $45,073 | $21.67 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $47,997 | $23.08 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $43,848 | $21.08 |
| 33 | Ohio | $45,654 | $21.95 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $44,705 | $21.49 |
| 35 | Utah | $48,091 | $23.12 |
| 36 | Vermont | $47,432 | $22.80 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $40,850 | $19.64 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $43,264 | $20.80 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $44,668 | $21.48 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $43,871 | $21.09 |
| 41 | Georgia | $41,809 | $20.10 |
| 42 | Missouri | $42,215 | $20.30 |
| 43 | Kansas | $39,099 | $18.80 |
| 44 | Iowa | $41,009 | $19.72 |
| 45 | Maine | $44,168 | $21.23 |
| 46 | Nevada | $42,412 | $20.39 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $44,175 | $21.24 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $39,171 | $18.83 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $36,792 | $17.69 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $37,225 | $17.90 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $32,357 | $15.56 |
Highest paying cities for instrumental music teachers
The highest-paying cities for instrumental music teachers are Boston, MA, Detroit, MI, and San Jose, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $74,574 | $35.85 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $67,792 | $32.59 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $65,104 | $31.30 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $52,644 | $25.31 |
| 5 | Teaneck, NJ | $52,006 | $25.00 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $49,003 | $23.56 |
| 7 | Great Falls, MT | $45,604 | $21.93 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $42,073 | $20.23 |
Instrumental music teacher salary details
An instrumental music teacher's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $77,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an instrumental music teacher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $52,423 | $4,369 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying instrumental music teacher jobs
The highest paying types of instrumental music teachers are professor, visiting professor, and associate professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art Educator | $40,421 | $3,368 | $19.43 | 42,617 |
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
| Art Coordinator | $50,508 | $4,209 | $24.28 | 18,099 |
| Visiting Professor | $116,217 | $9,685 | $55.87 | 27,139 |
| Director Of Instruction | $72,536 | $6,045 | $34.87 | 4,904 |
| Teaching Artist | $66,565 | $5,547 | $32.00 | 4,493 |
Top companies hiring instrumental music teachers now:
Which companies pay instrumental music teachers the most?
Instrumental music teacher salaries at Boston Public Schools and Teaneck High School are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average instrumental music teacher salary at companies like Hemet Unified School District and Alhambra Unified School District are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Public Schools | $73,715 | $35.44 |
| 2 | Teaneck High School | $53,950 | $25.94 |
| 3 | Hemet Unified School District | $52,978 | $25.47 |
| 4 | Alhambra Unified School District | $52,315 | $25.15 |
| 5 | ActionLink | $51,017 | $24.53 |
| 6 | Fontana Unified School District | $50,313 | $24.19 |
| 7 | Cypress Fairbanks Isd | $48,298 | $23.22 |
| 8 | Santa Monica High School | $48,041 | $23.10 |
| 9 | Minneapolis Public Schools | $46,284 | $22.25 |
| 10 | Santa Barbara Unified School District | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| 11 | Wayne RESA | $43,732 | $21.02 |
| 12 | Montebello Unified School Dst | $43,619 | $20.97 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Instrumental music teacher salary trends
The average instrumental music teacher salary has risen by $5,536 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average instrumental music teacher earned $46,887 annually, but today, they earn $52,423 a year. That works out to a 2% change in pay for instrumental music teachers over the last decade.
Compare instrumental music teacher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average instrumental music teacher salary over time
Compare instrumental music teacher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Instrumental music teacher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $52,400 | $25.20 | +0.2% |
| 2025 | $52,300 | $25.15 | -0.6% |
| 2024 | $52,600 | $25.30 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $50,300 | $24.21 | -2.6% |
| 2022 | $51,600 | $24.83 | +4.8% |
Recently added instrumental music teacher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action Day Schools | After-School Band and Instrumental Music Teacher | San Jose, CA | 06/25/2025 | $93,915 |
| Hopatcong Borough Schools | Anticipated Middle School & High School Band and Instrumental Music Teacher | Hopatcong, NJ | 06/21/2025 | $69,560 |
| Santa Barbara Unified School District | Instrumental Music Teacher-Junior High School Year | Ione, CA | 06/20/2025 | $64,099 |
| Old Bridge Township Public Schools | Elementary Instrumental Music Teacher | Downe, NJ | 06/20/2025 | $50,759 |
| Old Bridge Township School District | Elementary Instrumental Music Teacher | Matawan, NJ | 06/20/2025 | $50,759 |
| Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin HS | Middle School Instrumental Music Teacher | New York, NY | 05/24/2025 | $69,057 |
| Independence Community College | Instrumental Music Adjunct | Independence, KS | 05/16/2025 | $35,218 |
| Bach To Rock | Music Teacher-Guitar/Piano/Multi-Instrument (Fridays) | Lake Mary, FL | 05/13/2025 | $33,392 |
| Norris School District | Ms/Hs Instrumental Music Teacher | Nora, NE | 05/07/2025 | $40,900 |
| The King's Academy | Instrumental Music Teacher | Sunnyvale, CA | 04/27/2025 | $64,937 |
Instrumental music teacher salary FAQs
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