Music Directors and Composers Salary
The median pay for a music directors and composers in Colorado is $88,460/year ($42.53/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $159K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $85,296 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 32.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $88K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About music directors and composers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Colorado
Colorado sits well above the national pay line for music directors and composers, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $74K. Rent runs $1,832/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level music directors and composers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $88K. Top earners bring in $159K or more, a $110K spread from bottom to top.
Music Directors and Composers salary by metro in Colorado
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $105K | +18% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track music directors and composers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a music directors and composer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $88K, rent takes 32.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for music directors and composers in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new music directors and composers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,282/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is music directors and composer a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $88K here vs. $74K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for music directors and composers?
Colorado pays $88K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do music directors and composers make in Colorado?
The median is $88,460 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,170, and experienced music directors and composers can clear $158,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $88K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,560/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 32.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a music directors and composers salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median music directors and composers salary is worth about $85,296 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do music directors and composers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.