State comparison · 2025
Music Directors and Composers salary: California vs North Carolina
Music Directors and Composers in California earn a median of $93,090. In North Carolina, $63,380. After cost-of-living, the gap is 25.1% — not 46.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+46.9%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+25.1%
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%
North Carolina
Music Directors and Composers
- Median
- $63,380
- p25
- $49,610
- p75
- $82,430
- p10
- $38,480
- p90
- $190,280
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
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.