State comparison · 2025
Music Directors and Composers salary: California vs Tennessee
Music Directors and Composers in California earn a median of $93,090. In Tennessee, $79,640. After cost-of-living, the gap is 3% — not 16.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+16.9%
California vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
-3%
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%
Tennessee
Music Directors and Composers
- Median
- $79,640
- p25
- $18,600
- p75
- $99,900
- p10
- $18,520
- p90
- $117,820
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +100%
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.