State comparison · 2025
Music Directors and Composers salary: New Jersey vs South Dakota
Music Directors and Composers in New Jersey earn a median of $122,750. In South Dakota, $36,990. After cost-of-living, the gap is 170.2% — not 231.8%.
Nominal pay gap
+231.8%
New Jersey vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+170.2%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
New Jersey
Music Directors and Composers
- Median
- $122,750
- p25
- $99,410
- p75
- $171,070
- p10
- $67,690
- p90
- $205,740
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 108.8
South Dakota
Music Directors and Composers
- Median
- $36,990
- p25
- $31,340
- p75
- $37,710
- p10
- $30,930
- p90
- $38,690
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
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.