State comparison · 2025
Music Directors and Composers salary: California vs Washington
Music Directors and Composers in California earn a median of $93,090. In Washington, $75,060. After cost-of-living, the gap is 19.9% — not 24%.
Nominal pay gap
+24%
California vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
+19.9%
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%
Washington
Music Directors and Composers
- Median
- $75,060
- p25
- $61,320
- p75
- $104,090
- p10
- $51,230
- p90
- $161,370
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 107.0
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.