Composer earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level composer earnings begin at:

$47.55 per hour

$98,900 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level composer earnings begin at:

$31.11 per hour

$64,710 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level composer earnings begin at:

$24.97 per hour

$51,940 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level composer earnings begin at:

$15.32 per hour

$31,870 per year

10th percentile

Starting level composer earnings begin at:

$8.77 per hour

$18,250 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 Iowa. On average, they make less than music therapists but more than singers.

Career Median Salary
Music therapist salary $52K
Audio engineer salary $51K
Conductor salary $52K
Composer salary $52K
Talent director salary $43K
Musician salary $43K
Singer salary $45K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)