Music Directors and Composers Salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
The median pay for a music directors and composers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX is $49,880/year ($23.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $77K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.63), that's roughly $50,573 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,573/month — about 43.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands’s Regional Price Parity (98.63). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About music directors and composers
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Entry-level music directors and composers (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Music Directors and Composers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $92K | +44% | 150 |
| New York | $80K | +26% | 1,610 |
| Utah | $78K | +23% | 130 |
| Washington | $78K | +22% | 390 |
| Hawaii | $77K | +22% | 140 |
| California | $75K | +17% | 2,410 |
| Wisconsin | $74K | +16% | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $73K | +14% | 260 |
| Indiana | $72K | +13% | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $67K | +5% | 90 |
| Oregon | $62K | -2% | 470 |
| Minnesota | $62K | -3% | 90 |
| North Carolina | $62K | -3% | 200 |
| Georgia | $61K | -4% | N/A |
| Ohio | $60K | -5% | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | -5% | 450 |
| Mississippi | $60K | -5% | 60 |
| Missouri | $59K | -8% | 70 |
| Maryland | $58K | -9% | 140 |
| Florida | $57K | -10% | 670 |
| Iowa | $57K | -11% | 170 |
| Alaska | $56K | -12% | 40 |
| Texas | $51K | -19% | 650 |
| South Carolina | $50K | -22% | 60 |
| Virginia | $50K | -22% | 340 |
| Montana | $49K | -24% | 110 |
| Illinois | $46K | -27% | 540 |
| Michigan | $42K | -34% | 260 |
| Kentucky | $42K | -34% | 50 |
| South Dakota | $37K | -42% | 40 |
| Alabama | $32K | -49% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 31 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track music directors and composers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
How much do music directors and composers make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median is $49,880 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,600, and experienced music directors and composers can clear $101,000. The mean (average) is $76,730, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,510/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,573/month, which eats 44.8% 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands has a Regional Price Parity of 98.63 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median music directors and composers salary is worth about $50,573 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.