State comparison · 2025
Music Directors and Composers salary: California vs District of Columbia
Music Directors and Composers in California earn a median of $93,090. In District of Columbia, $84,040. After cost-of-living, the gap is 10% — not 10.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+10.8%
California vs District of Columbia
COL-adjusted gap
+10%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Music Directors and Composers
- Median
- $93,090
- p25
- $66,810
- p75
- $126,430
- p10
- $48,600
- p90
- $175,670
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -54%
District of Columbia
Music Directors and Composers
- Median
- $84,040
- p25
- $77,740
- p75
- $131,260
- p10
- $39,310
- p90
- $159,250
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.