Music Directors and Composers in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California music directors and composers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $66,810 and $126,430, with a median of $93,090.
Music Directors and Composers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 19 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $65,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 11 | $49,800 |
| Level II — qualified | 6 | $82,862 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $128,960 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $156,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Music Directors and Composers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music Land School of Music, LLC | Piano Department Director | 2 | $48,000 |
| The Bleeding Fingers Custom Music Shop, LLC | Composer | 2 | $69,098 |
| Amplified Cactus LLC | Composer | 1 | $49,500 |
| Citizen Music Inc | Producer | 1 | $65,000 |
| CPH PRODUCTIONS INC. | Music Director Producer | 1 | $84,203 |
| EMAN Music LLC | Musical Director and Composer | 1 | $49,800 |
| Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School | Choral Director | 1 | $81,521 |
| Irvine Onnuri Church | Music Director | 1 | $47,154 |
| Joy Music House | Music Composer | 1 | $52,000 |
| Korean Presbyterian Church of Fresno | Music Director, KPCF | 1 | $46,072 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Producer at Citizen Music Inc$65,000Santa MonicaWage Level IDecided Feb 23, 2026I-203-26044-639479
- Music Director at Tag Music LLC$76,800Los AngelesWage Level IIDecided Feb 10, 2026I-203-26034-615438
- Music Director Producer at CPH PRODUCTIONS INC.$84,203Los AngelesWage Level IIDecided Jan 26, 2026I-201-26016-565985
- Musical Director and Composer at EMAN Music LLC$49,800Los AngelesWage Level IDecided Nov 26, 2025I-203-25324-423802
- Music Consultant and Director at Lilac Coat Production LLC$156,000San FranciscoWage Level IVDecided Nov 21, 2025I-203-25321-411804
- Musical Director at Tlove Partners Inc$128,960San RafaelWage Level IIIDecided Nov 19, 2025I-203-25316-402902
- In-House Producer at Los Angeles Academy for Artists & Music Production LLC$50,000Santa MonicaWage Level IDecided Aug 5, 2025I-203-25210-208369
- Composer at Amplified Cactus LLC$49,500Los AngelesWage Level IDecided Jul 16, 2025I-203-25190-163796
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Music Directors and Composers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Music Directors and Composers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 8 certified offers. The most common variant is Music Director at a median of $47,154.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music Director | Irvine Onnuri Church | 5 | $47,154 |
| Composer | The Bleeding Fingers Custom Music Shop, LLC | 3 | $68,640 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Music Directors and Composers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 19 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $69,098.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | The Bleeding Fingers Custom Music Shop, LLC | 6 | $69,098 |
| Education | Music Land School of Music, LLC | 4 | $49,000 |
| Media and entertainment | CPH PRODUCTIONS INC. | 4 | $106,582 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Irvine Onnuri Church | 3 | $46,072 |
| Professional services | Citizen Music Inc | 2 | $78,260 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
5 years or more
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Fine Arts
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Hearing Sensitivity
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 3.8 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 3.8 / 5
Information Ordering
Ability
- 3.8 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 3.8 / 5
Fluency of Ideas
Ability
- 3.8 / 5
Originality
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
- 02
Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
- 03
Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
- 04
Consider such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
- 05
Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
- 06
Determine voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.
- 07
Experiment with different sounds, and types and pieces of music, using synthesizers and computers as necessary to test and evaluate ideas.
- 08
Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
-0.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Slower than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for music directors and composers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Francisco$112,950
- Sacramento$94,700
- Los Angeles$93,090
- San Diego$74,270
- Riverside—
- San Jose—
Compare Music Directors and Composers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Music Directors and Composers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Music Directors and Composers in California is $93,090.
- How does California compare to the national median for Music Directors and Composers?
- The California median is +24.8% versus the BLS national figure of $74,617.
- What is the salary range for Music Directors and Composers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $48,600 and the 90th-percentile at $175,670, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Music Directors and Composers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment declining by -0.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Music Directors and Composers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.