Salary distribution
Where New York 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 $51,230 and $130,590, with a median of $80,230.
Music Directors and Composers in New York: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 15 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 | 5 | $52,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 9 | $73,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $93,600 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Music Directors and Composers in New York. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bard College | Music Director & Assistant Conductor | 3 | $52,000 |
| Mencius Society for the Arts | Theater and Music Director | 2 | $63,294 |
| The Juilliard School | Assistant Orchestra Librarian | 1 | $85,592 |
| GLENAYR MUSIC LLC | MUSIC PRODUCER | 1 | $93,600 |
| Empire State Youth Orchestra, Inc | Associate Music Director of CHIME & Chamber Music | 1 | $73,000 |
| The Monkey Cup 2 LLC | Director of Music, Culture, and Artistic Development | 1 | $45,760 |
| BB III Productions Inc. | Producer, Arranger and Performer | 1 | $65,000 |
| Sunny Brae Inc. | Producer | 1 | $63,294 |
| The Music Academy Foundation Inc | Music Director (Woodwind and Piano) | 1 | $93,600 |
| JSE Music Corp | Music Composer | 1 | $83,200 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Assistant Orchestra Librarian at The Juilliard School$85,592New YorkWage Level IIDecided Aug 22, 2025I-203-25227-246306
- MUSIC PRODUCER at GLENAYR MUSIC LLC$93,600NEW YORKWage Level IIDecided Jul 31, 2025I-203-25205-199240
- Associate Music Director of CHIME & Chamber Music at Empire State Youth Orchestra, Inc$73,000SchenectadyWage Level IIDecided Jul 10, 2025I-200-25183-147554
- Director of Music, Culture, and Artistic Development at The Monkey Cup 2 LLC$45,760New YorkWage Level IDecided Jun 25, 2025I-200-25168-103108
- Theater and Music Director at Mencius Society for the Arts$63,294New YorkWage Level IIDecided Jun 24, 2025I-200-25167-096675
- Music and Theater Director at Mencius Society for the Arts$63,294New YorkWage Level IIDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25164-091677
- Music Director & Assistant Conductor at Bard College$52,000Annandale-on-HudsonWage Level IDecided May 27, 2025I-200-25139-990624
- Producer, Arranger and Performer at BB III Productions Inc.$65,000New YorkWage Level IIDecided May 23, 2025I-203-25136-983884
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 New York
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 in New York, by industry
Median offered wage across 14 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $83,200.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Bard College | 7 | $83,200 |
| Media and entertainment | Empire State Youth Orchestra, Inc | 4 | $69,000 |
| Healthcare | Mencius Society for the Arts | 2 | $63,294 |
| Technology and software | GLENAYR MUSIC LLC | 1 | $93,600 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
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.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Music Directors and Composers
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in New York
Metro-level salary data for music directors and composers in major New York metropolitan areas.
- New York City$97,980
- Buffalo$54,070
Compare Music Directors and Composers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Music Directors and Composers in New York?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Music Directors and Composers in New York is $80,230.
- How does New York compare to the national median for Music Directors and Composers?
- The New York median is +37.2% versus the BLS national figure of $58,471.
- What is the salary range for Music Directors and Composers in New York?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $36,890 and the 90th-percentile at $238,300, 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.