State comparison · 2025
Music Directors and Composers salary: California vs New York
Music Directors and Composers in California earn a median of $93,090. In New York, $82,930. After cost-of-living, the gap is 9.4% — not 12.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+12.3%
California vs New York
COL-adjusted gap
+9.4%
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 York
Music Directors and Composers
- Median
- $82,930
- p25
- $56,890
- p75
- $140,230
- p10
- $46,640
- p90
- $199,430
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 107.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -90%
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.