Composer earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level composer earnings begin at:

$55.48 per hour

$115,390 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level composer earnings begin at:

$43.67 per hour

$90,830 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level composer earnings begin at:

$31.11 per hour

$64,700 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level composer earnings begin at:

$24.42 per hour

$50,800 per year

10th percentile

Starting level composer earnings begin at:

$18.15 per hour

$37,740 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Composer salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Minnesota $72,630
Georgia $64,700
New Jersey $64,240
Washington $60,380
Texas $58,340
District of Columbia $57,450
Wisconsin $57,240
Rhode Island $56,980
New Hampshire $55,690
Kansas $55,290
Vermont $55,160
Virginia $55,090
Massachusetts $55,000
Florida $53,260
South Carolina $53,150
New York $53,020
Iowa $51,940
Mississippi $51,790
California $51,610
Connecticut $50,280
Missouri $49,280
Arkansas $49,110
Maryland $48,830
Kentucky $47,673
Indiana $46,900
Louisiana $46,420
Hawaii $45,760
Alabama $45,480
Michigan $45,100
Arizona $44,750
Nebraska $44,240
Oregon $44,040
Utah $43,440
Tennessee $43,260
Ohio $42,290
Colorado $41,780
Pennsylvania $40,630
Illinois $39,466
North Carolina $39,180
New Mexico $36,310
Oklahoma $34,080
Idaho $33,730
Montana $19,180

How do composer salaries compare to similar careers?

Composers earn about the same as related careers in Georgia. On average, they make less than talent directors but more than piano tuners.

Career Median Salary
Talent director salary $73K
Music teacher salary $67K
Music artist salary $66K
Musician salary $66K
Conductor salary $65K
Composer salary $65K
Audio engineer salary $59K
Talent agent salary $55K
Piano tuner salary $40K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)