Music Director and Composer salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A music director and composer earns a median of $73,710 a year ($35.44 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $90,470. About 12,540 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $73,710
- Gross pay
- $2,835.00
- Federal income tax
- −$284.08
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$175.77
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$41.11
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,334.04
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $73,710
- Federal
- $7,386
- FICA
- $5,639
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $60,685
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Similar jobs
- Media and Communication Worker: $73,620
- Sound Engineering Technician: $73,130
- Public Relations Specialist: $74,750
- Camera Operator: $74,990
- Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner: $72,420
- Set and Exhibit Designer: $75,240
- Film and Video Editor: $75,420
- Artist and Related Worker: $71,240
BLS occupation: Music Directors and Composers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 27-2041). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a music director and composer make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $35.44; the average is $43.50.
What is the salary range for a music director and composer?
The bottom 10% earn under $39,880 and the top 10% earn over $165,760 a year.
How much is $73,710 after taxes?
About $60,685 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $57,055 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.