Best degree programs for Music Directors and Composers, ranked by enrollment
12 college programs and 664 schools train Music Directors and Composers. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $73,710 median wage, 12,540 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
12 college programs at 664 schools train music directors and composers, graduating 16,135 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Music Performance, General. The job pays a median of $73,710 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About music directors and composers
Conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical artists or groups, such as orchestras, bands, choirs, and glee clubs; or create original works of music.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
12 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 50.0903 | 6,946 | 43.0% | 375 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 2 | CIP 50.0913 | 2,092 | 13.0% | 122 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 3 | CIP 50.1003 | 1,935 | 12.0% | 107 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 4 | CIP 50.0904 | 1,282 | 7.9% | 145 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 5 | CIP 50.0509 | 1,212 | 7.5% | 123 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 6 | CIP 50.0999 | 1,199 | 7.4% | 88 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 7 | CIP 50.0908 | 641 | 4.0% | 81 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 8 | Religious/Sacred Musicmain feeder CIP 39.0501 | 359 | 2.2% | 68 | $30,092 | $27,000 |
| 9 | CIP 50.0905 | 165 | 1.0% | 36 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 10 | CIP 50.0906 | 159 | 1.0% | 53 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 11 | Worship Ministrymain feeder CIP 39.0502 | 107 | 0.7% | 20 | $30,092 | $27,000 |
| 12 | CIP 50.0917 | 38 | 0.2% | 7 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berklee College of Music Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 1,237 | Music Performance, General | 67% | $46,197 | 44% |
| 2 | Full Sail University Winter Park, FL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 492 | Music Technology | 44% | $32,163 | — |
| 3 | Los Angeles Film School Hollywood, CA Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 486 | Music Technology | 41% | $32,792 | — |
| 4 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, IN Public · 6 feeder programs | 373 | Music Performance, General | 80% | — | 78% |
| 5 | Belmont University Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 370 | Music Management | 71% | $29,246 | 95% |
| 6 | New York University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 271 | Music Performance, General | 88% | $29,023 | 9% |
| 7 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 253 | Music Performance, General | 94% | $11,888 | 6% |
| 8 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Public · 2 feeder programs | 227 | Music Management | 54% | — | 69% |
| 9 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 216 | Music Management | 92% | $26,873 | 10% |
| 10 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · 5 feeder programs | 205 | Music Performance, General | 93% | — | 16% |
| 11 | University of Rochester Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 200 | Music Performance, General | 85% | $25,874 | 40% |
| 12 | Musicians Institute Hollywood, CA Private for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 197 | Music Performance, General | 53% | $37,963 | 78% |
| 13 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 188 | Religious/Sacred Music | 65% | $28,911 | 99% |
| 14 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Public · 5 feeder programs | 177 | Music Performance, General | 75% | — | 85% |
| 15 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX Public · 2 feeder programs | 175 | Music Management | 20% | — | — |
| 16 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 158 | Music, Other | 84% | $26,589 | 19% |
| 17 | The New School New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 156 | Music Performance, General | 69% | $54,185 | 63% |
| 18 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 145 | Music Performance, General | 89% | $21,956 | 11% |
| 19 | American Musical and Dramatic Academy New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 144 | Musical Theatre | 72% | $40,932 | 24% |
| 20 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA Public · 6 feeder programs | 141 | Music Performance, General | 75% | — | 80% |
| 21 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · 2 feeder programs | 139 | Music Performance, General | 61% | — | 72% |
| 22 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · 4 feeder programs | 134 | Music Performance, General | 86% | — | 24% |
| 23 | Manhattan School of Music New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 123 | Voice and Opera | 78% | $53,742 | 41% |
| 24 | Oberlin College Oberlin, OH Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 123 | Music Performance, General | 81% | $28,313 | 34% |
| 25 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · 5 feeder programs | 122 | Music Management | 90% | — | 38% |
| 26 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 118 | Music Management | 52% | $28,087 | 89% |
| 27 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 116 | Music Performance, General | 57% | — | 93% |
| 28 | Southern Utah University Cedar City, UT Public · 3 feeder programs | 105 | Music Technology | 61% | — | 82% |
| 29 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO Public · 1 feeder programs | 104 | Music Performance, General | 74% | — | 78% |
| 30 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · 5 feeder programs | 102 | Music Performance, General | 81% | — | 85% |
| 31 | Shoreline College Shoreline, WA Public · 2 feeder programs | 100 | Music Technology | 29% | — | — |
| 32 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · 4 feeder programs | 100 | Music Performance, General | 93% | — | 9% |
| 33 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC Public · 5 feeder programs | 99 | Music Performance, General | 56% | — | 89% |
| 34 | Cleveland Institute of Music Cleveland, OH Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 97 | Music Performance, General | 72% | $32,899 | 47% |
| 35 | DePaul University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 97 | Music Performance, General | 68% | $28,141 | 76% |
| 36 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · 3 feeder programs | 94 | Music Performance, General | 68% | — | 90% |
| 37 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · 1 feeder programs | 92 | Music Performance, General | 84% | — | 58% |
| 38 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OH Public · 7 feeder programs | 87 | Music Management | 65% | — | 85% |
| 39 | Shenandoah University Winchester, VA Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 87 | Music Performance, General | 67% | $27,455 | 77% |
| 40 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 83 | Music Performance, General | 95% | $14,799 | 8% |
| 41 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 82 | Music Performance, General | 69% | — | 46% |
| 42 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 82 | Music Management | 84% | $28,851 | 46% |
| 43 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MO Public · 3 feeder programs | 82 | Music Performance, General | 55% | — | 72% |
| 44 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 76 | Music Management | 78% | $36,004 | 79% |
| 45 | SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia, NY Public · 4 feeder programs | 75 | Music Performance, General | 50% | — | 78% |
| 46 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC Public · 4 feeder programs | 73 | Music Performance, General | 79% | — | 60% |
| 47 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK Public · 6 feeder programs | 72 | Music Technology | 37% | — | 78% |
| 48 | Roosevelt University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 71 | Musical Theatre | 35% | $21,085 | 97% |
| 49 | The New England Conservatory of Music Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 70 | Voice and Opera | 73% | $38,781 | 41% |
| 50 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Public · 1 feeder programs | 68 | Music Performance, General | 80% | — | 72% |
What music directors and composers earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $93,090 | 2,510 | 1.71× | 47 | 2,020 |
| New York | $82,930 | 2,370 | 3.03× | 54 | 1,856 |
| Massachusetts | $78,620 | 340 | 1.16× | 14 | 1,595 |
| Florida | $57,830 | 570 | 0.71× | 29 | 1,269 |
| Texas | $65,570 | 480 | 0.43× | 39 | 851 |
| Ohio | $61,380 | 440 | 0.98× | 39 | 842 |
| Tennessee | $79,640 | 400 | 1.49× | 20 | 765 |
| Illinois | $49,270 | — | — | 27 | 635 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,160 | 580 | 1.18× | 36 | 606 |
| Indiana | $77,270 | 200 | 0.78× | 17 | 520 |
| Virginia | $59,050 | 370 | 1.11× | 12 | 488 |
| Michigan | $59,400 | 310 | 0.87× | 22 | 480 |
| Georgia | $67,100 | — | — | 20 | 404 |
| North Carolina | $63,380 | 200 | 0.51× | 24 | 330 |
| Maryland | $64,300 | 160 | 0.74× | 7 | 309 |
| New Jersey | $122,750 | 210 | 0.62× | 10 | 278 |
| Washington | $75,060 | 260 | 0.91× | 11 | 195 |
| Utah | $82,570 | 150 | 1.06× | 7 | 191 |
| Missouri | $61,670 | 60 | 0.23× | 19 | 189 |
| Oklahoma | $54,250 | 60 | 0.46× | 9 | 185 |
| Colorado | $88,460 | 160 | 0.69× | 11 | 176 |
| Connecticut | $77,070 | 120 | 0.90× | 9 | 164 |
| Oregon | $60,800 | 500 | 3.16× | 7 | 158 |
| Wisconsin | $78,690 | 200 | 0.86× | 13 | 139 |
| Minnesota | — | 140 | 0.60× | 20 | 86 |
| Alabama | $42,250 | 70 | 0.42× | 8 | 74 |
| Mississippi | $62,240 | 40 | 0.46× | 8 | 57 |
| Iowa | $61,740 | 120 | 0.99× | 13 | 40 |
| District of Columbialimited | $84,040 | 140 | 2.50× | 2 | 37 |
| Montanalimited | $51,530 | 110 | 2.62× | 2 | 31 |
| Vermontmoderate | — | 30 | 1.35× | 4 | 23 |
| Hawaiilimited | $74,570 | 90 | 1.74× | 1 | 17 |
| Rhode Islandmoderate | — | 150 | 3.59× | 3 | 10 |
| Alaskalimited | — | 60 | 2.23× | 1 | 2 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
- Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
- Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
- Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
- Consider such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
- Determine voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.
- Experiment with different sounds, and types and pieces of music, using synthesizers and computers as necessary to test and evaluate ideas.
- Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.
Skills
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.5
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Active Learning3.4
- Writing3.4
- Monitoring3.3
- Learning Strategies2.8
Knowledge areas
- Fine Arts4.7
- English Language3.8
- Education and Training3.5
- Computers and Electronics3.4
- Customer and Personal Service3.1
- Philosophy and Theology3.1
Abilities
- Hearing Sensitivity4.3
- Written Comprehension3.8
- Information Ordering3.8
- Originality3.8
- Fluency of Ideas3.8
- Oral Comprehension3.6
Core activities
- Thinking Creatively4.5
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.4
- Getting Information4.1
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.0
- Scheduling Work and Activities3.9
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.8
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a Music Director
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience needed
- Less than 5 years
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 12 majors mapped to Music Directors and Composers12 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 39.0501Religious/Sacred Music
- 39.0502Worship Ministry
- 50.0509Musical Theatre
- 50.0903Music Performance, General
- 50.0904Music Theory and Composition
- 50.0905Musicology and Ethnomusicology
- 50.0906Conducting
- 50.0908Voice and Opera
- 50.0913Music Technology
- 50.0917Sound Arts
- 50.0999Music, Other
- 50.1003Music Management
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a Music Director?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Music Performance, General, which awarded 6,946 degrees in 2024-25, 43.0% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Music Director?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 12 programs to this occupation. The largest are Music, Arts, Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Religious Music and Worship. Together they graduate about 16,135 people a year.
How much do music directors and composers earn?+
The median is $73,710 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $39,880 at the 10th percentile to $165,760 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for music directors and composers growing?+
BLS projects a -0.3% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 4,300 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
664 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 12 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do music directors and composers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Conductor, Choir Director, Music Composer, Music Director among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 27-2041.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card