Music Directors and Composers Salary in New York, NY-NJ

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Median annual salary $97,980 +53.9% vs national
Median hourly $47.11
10th percentile $36,890
90th percentile —
Employed locally 1,050
National median $63,670

Compare Music Directors and Composers salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how New York, NY-NJ stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Music Directors and Composers
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New York, NY-NJ
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,890
    25th
    $58,780
    50th (median)
    $97,980
    75th
    $174,180

    New York economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $97,334 2023 • Census ACS
    Music Directors and Composers salary vs area income 101% Median Music Directors and Composers salary is 1% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Music Directors and Composers

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $114,290
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $104,000
    Trenton-Princeton, NJ $96,430
    Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $94,020
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $92,930
    Connecticut $91,810

    Nearby metros — Music Directors and Composers salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $73,780
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $72,030
    Syracuse, NY $70,300
    Rochester, NY $66,290
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $59,780
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $54,070

    Related occupations in New York, NY-NJ

    OccupationMedian salary
    Producers and Directors $106,730
    Public Relations Specialists $79,990
    Editors $99,220
    Graphic Designers $75,850
    Coaches and Scouts $58,400
    Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers $43,490

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Music Directors and Composers make per hour in New York?

    The median hourly wage for Music Directors and Composers in New York, NY-NJ is $47.11, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $103.59 or more per hour.

    Is New York above or below average for Music Directors and Composers salaries?

    The median Music Directors and Composers salary in New York, NY-NJ is 53.9% above the national median of $63,670. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Music Directors and Composers in New York?

    Entry-level Music Directors and Composers (10th percentile) earn around $36,890 per year in New York, NY-NJ. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $58,780.