Arts, design, media and sports
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.
Median pay
$73,710
Growth to 2035
+1%
little or no change
Openings a year
4,200
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Music directors and composers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Music directors and composers: 52% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: Arranger · Choir Director · Composer · Conductor · Music Composer · Music Director · Music Producer · Orchestra Director
Outlook and AI
Music directors and composers held 51,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 51,700 by 2035 (+1%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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