Music Directors and Composers Salary
The median pay for a music directors and composers in Tennessee is $79,640/year ($38.29/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $19K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $88,706 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $80K get you in Tennessee?
About music directors and composers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Music directors and composers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $80K locally vs. $74K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 22.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level music directors and composers (10th percentile) start around $19K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $99K spread from bottom to top.
Music Directors and Composers salary by metro in Tennessee
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $85K | +6% | 310 |
Compare to other states
Track music directors and composers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a music directors and composer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 22.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for music directors and composers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new music directors and composers typically earn — is $19K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,111/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 109% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $80K locally vs. $74K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for music directors and composers?
Tennessee pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do music directors and composers make in Tennessee?
The median is $79,640 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $18,520, and experienced music directors and composers can clear $117,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,368/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 22.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a music directors and composers salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $88,706 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.