Music Directors and Composers
How pay grows with experience
Music Directors and Composers — typical pay by experience
Annual wages statewide: starting out, typical (median), and experienced.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting out (entry) | $44,586 |
| Median (typical) | $82,405 |
| Experienced | $145,615 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Where it pays most across New York
Median pay for this occupation by region. Select a region for its full profile.
Music Directors and Composers — median pay by region
Regional median annual wage, highest first.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| New York City | $104,434 |
| Long Island | $83,460 |
| Hudson Valley | $72,755 |
| Finger Lakes | $71,494 |
| Mohawk Valley | $67,228 |
| Western New York | $64,098 |
| Central New York | $62,978 |
| Capital Region | $61,401 |
| North Country | $61,002 |
| Southern Tier | $60,421 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Higher-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media) that pay more than this one. A plain “same field, higher pay” guide — not a skills-match score.
- Broadcast Technicians$83,178 median (+$772) · −2.1% by 2032
- Technical Writers$85,230 median (+$2,825) · +8.0% by 2032
- Lighting Technicians$85,462 median (+$3,057)
- Interpreters and Translators$86,951 median (+$4,545) · +13.9% by 2032
- Commercial and Industrial Designers$87,558 median (+$5,152) · 0.0% by 2032
- Sound Engineering Technicians$89,553 median (+$7,148) · +0.7% by 2032
Lower-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media) that pay less than this one — often earlier-career roles or a way in.
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators$80,828 median (−$1,578)
- Public Relations Specialists$80,644 median (−$1,762) · +14.2% by 2032
- Designers, All Other$80,254 median (−$2,151) · +1.5% by 2032
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other$79,397 median (−$3,009) · −0.6% by 2032
- Graphic Designers$76,556 median (−$5,850) · +3.0% by 2032
- Interior Designers$75,633 median (−$6,772) · +1.4% by 2032
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