Music Directors and Composers Hourly Wage in California (2024)

The median hourly wage for Music Directors and Composers in California is $38.01/hour, based on 2024 BLS data.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California hourly wage data • Updated 2026-04-06

Entry-Level (P10)
$16.93
/hour
Median (P50)
$38.01
/hour
Senior (P90)
$105.44
/hour

Annual Salary Equivalent

$79,070
Based on 2,080 work hours/year (40 hours/week, 52 weeks/year). View annual salary page.

California vs National Average

Entry-Level (P10)
$16.93
National: $16.27
+4.1%
Median (P50)
$38.01
National: $29.64
+28.2%
Senior (P90)
$105.44
National: $59.25
+78.0%

Hourly Wage Breakdown by Percentile

Percentile Hourly Rate Weekly (×40h) Monthly (×173.3h) Annual (×2,080h)
Entry-Level (P10) $16.93 $677 $2935 $35,220
Q1 (P25) $24.52 $981 $4250 $51,000
Median (P50) $38.01 $1520 $6589 $79,070
Q3 (P75) $80.96 $3238 $14033 $168,400
Senior (P90) $105.44 $4218 $18276 $219,310

Note: Weekly = hourly × 40 hours. Monthly = hourly × 173.3 hours (avg). Annual = hourly × 2,080 hours.

Highest-Paying States for Music Directors and Composers

#1
$46.76
$46.76/hr
+57.8%
#2
$40.2
$40.2/hr
+35.6%
#3
$39.59
$39.59/hr
+33.6%
#4
$38.08
$38.08/hr
+28.5%
#5
$38.01
$38.01/hr
+28.2%
#6
$35.86
$35.86/hr
+21.0%
#7
$34.62
$34.62/hr
+16.8%
#8
$34.46
$34.46/hr
+16.3%
#9
$33.04
$33.04/hr
+11.5%
#10
$32.96
$32.96/hr
+11.2%

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average hourly wage for Music Directors and Composers in California?

The median hourly wage for Music Directors and Composers in California is $38.01/hour (2024 BLS data). This equals approximately $79,070.0 per year based on 2,080 work hours.

How does California Music Directors and Composers hourly pay compare to national average?

The median hourly rate for Music Directors and Composers in California is $38.01/hr compared to the national average of $29.64/hr — higher by $8.37/hr.

What is the entry-level hourly rate for Music Directors and Composers in California?

Entry-level Music Directors and Composers professionals in California earn approximately $16.93/hour (10th percentile), which equals $35,220.0/year. Senior-level professionals earn $105.44/hour.

How much does a senior Music Directors and Composers make per hour in California?

Senior-level Music Directors and Composers professionals in California (90th percentile) earn approximately $105.44/hour, or $219,310.0/year.

How is hourly wage calculated from annual salary?

Hourly wages are calculated by dividing annual salary by 2,080 hours (52 weeks × 40 hours/week). This is the standard full-time conversion used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Related Salary Pages

Data Source

Hourly wage data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects median and percentile wages for Music Directors and Composers (SOC 272041) in California.

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