Musician | Salary & Job Information

Becoming a Musician via Online Education?

At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths. Liberty University Online, one of the highest ranking online schools, is a US school (accredited) offering music courses to train individuals to become top-notch musicians, producers, vocalists, guitarists, pianists, concert pianists, music producers, music technologists, musical instrument repairers and tuners, etc. Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 47,260 people employed as musicians and singers alone in America, and their average annual salary is $0. Musical instrument repairers and tuners make on average $36,330 per year and there are about 5,580 of them employed today. Colleges and universities like Liberty University Online that provide online education are successfully launching workers into this field.

Typical Work Locations for a Musician
  • Bar
  • Hotel
  • Schools
  • Theater
  • Television Studio
  • Recording Studio
  • Amusement Park
  • Church
  • Concert Hall
  • Restaurant
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Musician
  • Work flexible hours
  • Work and meet lots of interesting people
  • Travel
  • Become Famous
  • Work in fun locations
  • Earn lots of money
  • Make music videos
  • Party
  • Win music awards
  • Have a very satisfying and artistic job
Potential Drawbacks
  • Not becoming famous
  • Not liked by all people, hated by some
  • More of a talent based job
  • Lots of practice
  • Income is uncertain
  • High competition in music industry
  • Costly music equipments
  • High advertising expenditure
  • Live concerts not easy to handle
  • High cost of launching music albums
Related Professions to Consider
  • General and Instrumental Music Teacher
  • Assistant Professor of Music
  • Chamber Orchestra Conductor
  • Worship Pastor
  • Composer
  • Songwriter
  • Arranger
  • Recording Artist
  • Music Therapist
  • Performer
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Musician
  • When and why did you start playing?
  • Which instruments do you play?
  • What was the first tune(s) you learned?
  • Is your family musical?
  • How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
  • Which famous musicians do you admire Why?
  • Which famous musicians have you learned from?
  • Who was your first teacher Other teachers?
  • Do you teach music?
  • What are your fondest musical memories In your house In your neighborhood or town?
Common Collaborating Professions
  • Vocalist
  • Organist
  • Professional Studio Musician
  • Music Composer
  • lyric writer
  • Director
  • Recordist
  • Mixing Specialist
  • Marketing Manager
  • Internet Operator
Musician Training books Musician (More) Popular books Potential Companies to Work For Common College Majors
  • Pianist
  • Music Teacher
  • Sound Engineer
  • Music History
  • Music Theory
  • Musical Theater
  • Composition
  • Vocalist
  • Music Conductor
  • Audio Technician

Musician Salary Information

Category: Musical instrument repairers and tuners

Total # Employed in the US 5,580
Average Hourly Wage: $17.47/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$9.19 $12.0 $15.77 $21.3 $28.33
Average Yearly Salary $36,330
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$19,110 $24,950 $32,800 $44,300 $58,920
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
4.6% 22.3% 32.0% 22.4% 14.6% 3.5% 0.5%
Musical instrument repairers and tuners — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
STATEAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Salary
Ohio $28.36/hr $58,990
Puerto Rico $24.11/hr $50,150
Kansas $21.8/hr $45,340
Michigan $21.53/hr $44,790
Louisiana $20.57/hr $42,790
Mississippi $19.56/hr $40,670
Nebraska $19.41/hr $40,380
Oklahoma $18.99/hr $39,510
Missouri $18.83/hr $39,160
North Dakota $18.82/hr $39,160
Delaware $18.66/hr $38,810
Massachusetts $18.57/hr $38,630
Connecticut $18.49/hr $38,450
Montana $18.19/hr $37,840
North Carolina $18.03/hr $37,500
Virginia $17.55/hr $36,510
Arkansas $17.54/hr $36,490
Wyoming $17.24/hr $35,870
Colorado $16.9/hr $35,160
Oregon $16.63/hr $34,600
Utah $16.08/hr $33,450
Tennessee $15.98/hr $33,240
West Virginia $15.6/hr $32,450
South Carolina $15.57/hr $32,380
Kentucky $15.05/hr $31,300
Hawaii $14.79/hr $30,750
Maryland $14.57/hr $30,300
Washington $14.55/hr $30,260
Maine $14.46/hr $30,070
New Hampshire $14.18/hr $29,500
Wisconsin $13.56/hr $28,200
New York $12.87/hr $26,770


Category: Producers

Total # Employed in the US 79,780
Average Hourly Wage: $41.77/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$14.69 $20.62 $32.08 $53.49 $0.0
Average Yearly Salary $86,870
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$30,560 $42,890 $66,720 $111,250 $0
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
0.8% 6.7% 15.4% 6.9% 54.8% 12.7% 2.8%


Category: Music Composers and Arrangers

Total # Employed in the US 14,330
Average Hourly Wage: $25.68/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$10.33 $15.49 $21.68 $29.63 $40.87
Average Yearly Salary $53,410
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$21,480 $32,210 $45,090 $61,630 $85,020
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
4.8% 15.4% 21.2% 5.0% 30.7% 19.3% 3.7%


Category: Musicians, Instrumental

Total # Employed in the US 47,260
Average Hourly Wage: $29.1/hr
Hourly Wage Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$8.04 $12.64 $22.36 $37.09 $58.9
Average Yearly Salary $0
Yearly Salary Range
PERCENTILE
10%25%50%75%90%
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Employment Demographics
% OF WORKERS WITH
< High School Diploma High School Diploma Some College Associate Degree Bachelor Degree Master Degree Doctoral Degree
4.8% 15.4% 21.2% 5.0% 30.7% 19.3% 3.7%


Music Programs by State & City