State comparison · 2025
Music Directors and Composers salary: California vs South Carolina
Music Directors and Composers in California earn a median of $93,090. In South Carolina, $49,890. After cost-of-living, the gap is 57.9% — not 86.6%.
Nominal pay gap
+86.6%
California vs South Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+57.9%
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%
South Carolina
Music Directors and Composers
- Median
- $49,890
- p25
- $46,160
- p75
- $55,910
- p10
- $17,730
- p90
- $91,000
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 93.7
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.