Music Directors and Composers Salary in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
The median pay for a music directors and composers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $97,980/year ($47.11/hour), per BLS data. Entry-level workers start around $37K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Prices run high here (RPP 112.56), so that salary is closer to $87,047 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,910/month — about 47.3% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $98K get you in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
About music directors and composers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Entry-level music directors and composers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
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 |
Track music directors and composers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York-Newark-Jersey City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do music directors and composers make in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
The median is $97,980 a year - that works out to about $47.11 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,040/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,910/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 48.2% 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City?
New York-Newark-Jersey City has a Regional Price Parity of 112.56 (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 $87,047 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.