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 $54,920 and $119,260, with a median of $74,760.
Music Directors and Composers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 16 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $51,000. 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 | 9 | $49,500 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $86,260 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bleeding Fingers Custom Music Shop, LLC | Composer | 2 | $69,098 |
| Music Land School of Music, LLC | Piano Department Director | 2 | $48,000 |
| EMAN Music LLC | Musical Director and Composer | 1 | $49,800 |
| Lilac Coat Production LLC | Music Consultant and Director | 1 | $156,000 |
| Tlove Partners Inc | Musical Director | 1 | $128,960 |
| Los Angeles Academy for Artists & Music Production LLC | In-House Producer | 1 | $50,000 |
| Amplified Cactus LLC | Composer | 1 | $49,500 |
| Wefluens LLC | Music Directors and Composers | 1 | $91,520 |
| Korean Presbyterian Church of Fresno | Music Director, KPCF | 1 | $46,072 |
| REDBACK USA INC. | MUSIC DIRECTOR | 1 | $91,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Musical Director and Composer at EMAN Music LLC$49,800Los AngelesDecided Nov 26, 2025I-203-25324-423802
- Music Consultant and Director at Lilac Coat Production LLC$156,000San FranciscoDecided Nov 21, 2025I-203-25321-411804
- Musical Director at Tlove Partners Inc$128,960San RafaelDecided 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
- Music Directors and Composers at Wefluens LLC$91,520Los AngelesWage Level IIDecided May 28, 2025I-200-25141-999588
- Music Director, KPCF at Korean Presbyterian Church of Fresno$46,072FresnoWage Level IIDecided May 27, 2025I-200-25139-990770
- MUSIC DIRECTOR at REDBACK USA INC.$91,000LOS ANGELESWage Level IIDecided May 23, 2025I-203-25136-986030
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.
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 7 certified offers. The most common variant is Music Director at a median of $46,613.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music Director | Korean Presbyterian Church of Fresno | 4 | $46,613 |
| 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 16 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $68,640.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | The Bleeding Fingers Custom Music Shop, LLC | 5 | $68,640 |
| Education | Music Land School of Music, LLC | 4 | $49,000 |
| Media and entertainment | Lilac Coat Production LLC | 3 | $128,960 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Korean Presbyterian Church of Fresno | 3 | $46,072 |
| Professional services | Wefluens LLC | 1 | $91,520 |
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 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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$92,930
- Riverside$74,780
- San Jose$73,780
- Los Angeles$71,420
- San Diego$64,200
- Sacramento$60,640
Compare Music Directors and Composers pay across nearby states
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 $74,760.
- How does California compare to the national median for Music Directors and Composers?
- The California median is +27.9% versus the BLS national figure of $58,471.
- What is the salary range for Music Directors and Composers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $41,790 and the 90th-percentile at $179,160, 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.