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Program director/music director salary

Average program director/music director salary

$63,380

$30.47 hourly rate

Entry-level program director/music director salary
$37,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Average Program Director/Music Director Salary

The average salary for a Program Director/Music Director is approximately $63,380 annually, translating to around $30 per hour. This figure reflects a range of factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific type of organization. For instance, those in urban areas or with more experience tend to earn higher salaries.

Where Can Program Directors Earn More?

Salary potential significantly varies by state and city. For example, states like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to living costs and demand for skilled professionals. Additionally, major cities often provide more competitive compensation packages.

Career Opportunities

As a Program Director/Music Director, individuals can explore roles in schools, arts organizations, and community programs. Each position allows for creative expression and leadership, making it a fulfilling career choice for those passionate about music and education.

Conclusion

If you're considering a career as a Program Director/Music Director, understanding the salary landscape is crucial. This knowledge not only helps in negotiating salaries but also allows for informed career decisions that align with your financial goals.

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Where can a Program Director/Music Director earn more?

Compare salary by location
Vs
98k
78k
58k
38k
18k
Columbus, OH$84,966
Houston, TX$47,730
Compare salary by company
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124k
104k
84k
64k
44k
iHeartMedia$103,353
Bard College$73,868

Average program director/music director salary by state

The highest-paying states for program director/music directors are California, New York, and Georgia. The lowest average program director/music director salary states are Utah, Alaska, and Arkansas.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for program director/music directors

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1New York$75,221$36.16
2Connecticut$65,785$31.63
3New Jersey$72,913$35.05
4Georgia$74,675$35.90
5California$85,536$41.12
6Delaware$60,485$29.08
7New Hampshire$58,295$28.03
8Nevada$65,011$31.26
9Rhode Island$55,421$26.64
10Pennsylvania$57,152$27.48
11Alabama$51,719$24.86
12Colorado$57,884$27.83
13North Carolina$57,541$27.66
14Illinois$56,019$26.93
15Michigan$55,514$26.69
16Massachusetts$61,217$29.43
17District of Columbia$68,092$32.74
18South Dakota$49,027$23.57
19Ohio$53,306$25.63
20West Virginia$51,618$24.82
21Maryland$63,089$30.33
22New Mexico$52,772$25.37
23Oklahoma$49,280$23.69
24Washington$59,992$28.84
25Vermont$55,509$26.69
26Idaho$50,278$24.17
27Arizona$49,769$23.93
28Indiana$51,407$24.71
29Florida$51,647$24.83
30Mississippi$45,635$21.94
31Maine$48,524$23.33
32Montana$46,654$22.43
33North Dakota$44,758$21.52
34Missouri$49,923$24.00
35Iowa$44,183$21.24
36Kentucky$48,452$23.29
37Minnesota$47,966$23.06
38Wyoming$49,714$23.90
39Texas$47,589$22.88
40Oregon$42,164$20.27
41Tennessee$48,104$23.13
42Kansas$47,714$22.94
43Arkansas$40,038$19.25
44Hawaii$37,200$17.88
45Virginia$50,735$24.39
46Louisiana$39,425$18.95
47Utah$41,628$20.01
48Nebraska$41,857$20.12
49South Carolina$43,328$20.83
50Wisconsin$39,483$18.98
51Alaska$41,482$19.94
Top program director/music director jobs near you

Highest paying cities for program director/music directors

The highest-paying cities for program director/music directors are Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, and Cambridge, MA.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Los Angeles, CA$84,966$40.85
2New York, NY$75,483$36.29
3Cambridge, MA$60,972$29.31
4Miami, FL$51,362$24.69
5Houston, TX$47,730$22.95

Program director/music director salary details

A program director/music director's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $108,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average program director/music director salary graph
Average program director/music director salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a program director/music director's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rate
90th Percentile$108,000$9,000$52
75th Percentile$83,000$6,917$40
Average$63,380$5,282$30
25th Percentile$47,000$3,917$23
10th Percentile$37,000$3,083$18

Highest paying program director/music director jobs

The highest paying types of program director/music directors are director, deputy program director, and senior program officer.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Director Of Program Development$69,014$5,751$33.18131,077
Director$113,489$9,457$54.56230,711
Director Of After School Program$49,648$4,137$23.8794,858
Sports Director$61,211$5,101$29.4313,106
Program Supervisor$45,460$3,788$21.8665,551
Director Of Music$48,096$4,008$23.127,394

Top companies hiring program director/music directors now:

  1. Urban One jobs (3)
  2. iHeartMedia jobs (4)
  3. Boston Public Schools jobs (1)
  4. SiriusXM jobs (4)
  5. Cumulus Media jobs (2)

Which companies pay program director/music directors the most?

Program director/music director salaries at iHeartMedia and SiriusXM are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average program director/music director salary at companies like Dublin School and Bard College are highly competitive.

RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rate
1iHeartMedia$103,353$49.69
2SiriusXM$98,229$47.23
3Dublin School$96,459$46.37
4Bard College$73,868$35.51

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$63,000$62,600$62,200$61,800$61,400$61,000
MaleFemale

Program director/music director salary trends

The average program director/music director salary has risen by $4,762 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average program director/music director earned $58,618 annually, but today, they earn $63,380 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for program director/music directors over the last decade.

Compare program director/music director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average program director/music director salary over time

Compare program director/music director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Program director/music director salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly rate% Change
2025$63,400$30.47+2.6%
2024$61,700$29.68+3.7%
2023$59,500$28.59+0.1%
2022$59,400$28.56+0.9%
2021$58,900$28.30+3.5%

Recently added program director/music director salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
Hope EnterprisesKsbj Assistant Program Director/Music DirectorHouston, TX03/28/2025$78,000
Hope EnterprisesKsbj Assistant Program Director/Music DirectorHouston, TX02/21/2025$78,000
Hope EnterprisesKsbj Assistant Program Director/Music DirectorHouston, TX01/26/2025$78,000
California Baptist UniversityProgram Director for Commercial Music Division-Tenure Track Faculty PositionFort Collins, CO12/14/2024$90,000
Upfrom AppProvide A Meal and Transportation To OUR Musicore ProgramPhiladelphia, PA12/11/2024$20,870
Rippl Labs, Inc.Director of Music Programming (A/K/A Media Programming DIR.)New York, NY11/27/2024$102,003
California Baptist UniversityProgram Director for Commercial Music Division-Tenure Track Faculty PositionFort Collins, CO10/22/2024$90,000
The Counter Rhythm GroupProgram Director, Music Programming Music/Band Director New York, New YorkNew York, NY09/11/2024$58,500
University of HartfordDirector, Music Programs, Hartt Community DivisionWest Hartford, CT05/17/2024$58,024
University of HartfordDirector, Music Programs, Hartt Community DivisionWest Hartford, CT05/17/2024$58,024

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