Music Director salary
From 68 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 27-2041: Music Directors and Composers
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 57% of Music Director filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Median up 15% since FY2020. From $52,021 in FY2020 to $59,821 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Music Director H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 68 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Music Director jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 27-2041, Music Directors and Composers). The median base salary is $59,238, 52% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $49,440 and $76,960. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 57% of filings.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 57% of filings
Mid-level · 43% of filings
Senior · 0% of filings
Expert · 0% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $52,000 | 33 |
| Level II · Qualified | $66,955 | 25 |
| Level III · Experienced | – | 0 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
What a Music Director does
Conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical artists or groups, such as orchestras, bands, choirs, and glee clubs; or create original works of music.
Typical tasks
- Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
- Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
- Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
- Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
- Consider such factors as ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
- Determine voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Music Directors and Composers (27-2041.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Music Directors and Composers), the median annual wage was $73,710 in May 2025, with 12,540 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $59,238, 20% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,532 | $39,880 |
| 25th percentile | $49,440 | $53,110 |
| Median | $59,238 | $73,710 |
| 75th percentile | $76,960 | $104,090 |
| 90th percentile | $85,376 | $165,760 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $45,532 |
| 25th | $49,440 |
| 50th (median) | $59,238 |
| 75th | $76,960 |
| 90th | $85,376 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $52,021 | $40,000 | $58,178 | 25 |
| FY2021 | $51,000 | $40,451 | $64,480 | 26 |
| FY2022 | $52,000 | $45,760 | $66,560 | 33 |
| FY2023 | $56,160 | $46,367 | $64,896 | 19 |
| FY2024 | $56,160 | $41,226 | $75,514 | 27 |
| FY2025 | $58,000 | $46,239 | $72,850 | 40 |
| FY2026 | $59,821 | $54,590 | $83,263 | 28 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Music Director make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Music Director jobs is $59,238 (68 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $49,440 and $76,960.
What does an entry-level Music Director earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $52,000. Level I accounts for 57% of Music Director filings.
Do H-1B Music Directors earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($59,238) is 20% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($73,710, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.