The average salary for a music teacher in the United States is around $78,620 per year.
Avg Salary
Music teachers earn an average yearly salary of $78,620.
Wages typically start from $47,570 and go up to $163,350.
35% above national average Updated in 2025
Music teacher earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level music teacher earnings begin at:
$78.53 per hour
$163,350 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level music teacher earnings begin at:
$49.93 per hour
$103,850 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level music teacher earnings begin at:
$37.80 per hour
$78,620 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level music teacher earnings begin at:
$29.62 per hour
$61,620 per year
10th percentile
Starting level music teacher earnings begin at:
$22.87 per hour
$47,570 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Music teacher salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $99,410 |
| New York | $98,850 |
| Vermont | $97,980 |
| Rhode Island | $97,580 |
| District of Columbia | $96,900 |
| Massachusetts | $85,820 |
| Maryland | $85,590 |
| Michigan | $82,990 |
| New Jersey | $80,100 |
| Georgia | $79,870 |
| Maine | $79,860 |
| New Hampshire | $79,090 |
| Louisiana | $78,710 |
| Connecticut | $78,600 |
| Montana | $78,420 |
| Ohio | $78,050 |
| Washington | $77,950 |
| Minnesota | $77,760 |
| Iowa | $77,740 |
| Texas | $77,560 |
| Wisconsin | $77,560 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,280 |
| Oregon | $76,770 |
| New Mexico | $76,240 |
| Indiana | $76,050 |
| Missouri | $75,960 |
| Nebraska | $75,200 |
| Virginia | $74,870 |
| North Carolina | $73,800 |
| West Virginia | $73,280 |
| Idaho | $72,300 |
| Arizona | $72,060 |
| Tennessee | $72,030 |
| Colorado | $70,060 |
| North Dakota | $67,190 |
| Utah | $66,220 |
| Kentucky | $64,440 |
| Florida | $63,820 |
| Alabama | $63,540 |
| South Dakota | $63,380 |
| Illinois | $62,960 |
| South Carolina | $62,420 |
| Oklahoma | $62,200 |
| Hawaii | $61,960 |
| Kansas | $61,260 |
| Arkansas | $60,650 |
| Mississippi | $60,580 |
| Wyoming | $59,190 |
| Nevada | $52,870 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,840 |
| Delaware | $103,320 |
How do music teacher salaries compare to similar careers?
Music teachers earn 6% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than singers but more than nurse educators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Singer salary | $99K |
| Principal salary | $106K |
| Talent director salary | $90K |
| Distance learning coordinator salary | $95K |
| School psychologist salary | $96K |
| Music teacher salary | $79K |
| Conductor salary | $74K |
| Composer salary | $74K |
| Physical education teacher salary | $77K |
| Nurse educator salary | $80K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)