State comparison · 2025
Music Directors and Composers salary: California vs New Jersey
Music Directors and Composers in New Jersey earn a median of $122,750. In California, $93,090. After cost-of-living, the gap is 25.5% — not 24.2%.
Nominal pay gap
-24.2%
California vs New Jersey
COL-adjusted gap
-25.5%
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%
New Jersey
Music Directors and Composers
- Median
- $122,750
- p25
- $99,410
- p75
- $171,070
- p10
- $67,690
- p90
- $205,740
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 108.8
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.