State comparison · 2025
Music Directors and Composers salary: California vs Virginia
Music Directors and Composers in California earn a median of $93,090. In Virginia, $59,050. After cost-of-living, the gap is 44% — not 57.6%.
Nominal pay gap
+57.6%
California vs Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+44%
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%
Virginia
Music Directors and Composers
- Median
- $59,050
- p25
- $48,510
- p75
- $92,150
- p10
- $42,910
- p90
- $130,980
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 101.1
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +200%
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.