What the work involves, what it pays, and real lines you can start from. Answer a few small questions and leave with a resume.
Also called composer, digital composer, film composer and music composer.
$73,710
Median pay a year
12,540
People do this work
6
Resume lines ready for you
Pay and headcount are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lines are written from what the US Department of Labor records about this work.
An example
A Music Director and Composer resume, filled in
Every line below comes from the same public record as the rest of this page. The greyed parts are the ones only you can answer.
Music Director and Composer
Summary
Music director and composer leading instrumental and vocal performances, creating original works, and collaborating with artists to achieve tonal balance and musical interpretations
Experience
Music Director and Composer
Where you worked
Month Year to Month Year
Directed groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired tonal and harmonic balance
Studied scores to learn music in detail and develop interpretations for performances
Applied elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies
Transcribed ideas for musical compositions into musical notation using instruments, pen and paper, or computers
Planned and scheduled rehearsals and performances, arranging details such as locations and accompanists
Auditioned and selected performers for musical presentations to ensure quality and fit
Collaborated with colleagues, such as copyists, to complete final scores and arrangements
Skills
Core Skills
Creating musical compositions, Studying musical compositions, Studying scripts, Determining presentation content, Staying informed about developments, Operating audio recording equipment, Negotiating for services, Directing fundraising activities, Auditioning or interviewing performers
Checking & Planning
Designing promotional materials
Open to
On site, Remote
Education
Bachelor's Degree Your college, Year
Yours will not say this. It will say what you did, in your own words, and Rung writes it with you one question at a time.
Nothing to write from scratch
What to put on a Music Director and Composer resume
Real duties for this job, already written the way a resume reads. Inside Rung you choose the ones that were yours.
What did you do each day?
Choose what fits, or say your own.
Used gestures to shape music performanceDirected groups during rehearsals and performancesStudied scores to develop musical interpretationsApplied music theory to create structuresSelected music based on ensemble size and abilitiesTranscribed musical ideas into notation
becomes
On your resume
Used gestures to shape music performances, communicating desired tempo and phrasing to musicians
Studied musical scores to develop detailed interpretations and enhance performance quality
These are written the way a resume line reads. Rung asks which ones are actually yours, keeps your own words, and never claims work you did not do.
Then it asks for one more thing
The line that could show more, and the fact that lands it.
Make it stronger
A few lines could show more. Each one is asked, and answered by choosing.
Mention if you directed any specific groups or ensembles.
The line
Led a community choir during performances, using gestures to shape music and communicate tempo to musicians
Mention if you directed any specific groups or ensembles.
Pick one that fits
Led a community choir during performancesDirected a youth orchestra for concertsManaged a small ensemble for events
Or add your own.
In your wordsAdd it
Adding it to the line…
Added to your resume
Show how your interpretations improved the overall performance.
The line
Studied musical scores to develop detailed interpretations and enhance performance quality
Show how your interpretations improved the overall performance.
Pick one that fits
Resulted in more expressive performancesImproved musicians' understanding of the piecesEnhanced audience engagement during concerts
Or add your own.
In your wordsAdd it
Adding it to the line…
Added to your resume
Every ready answer is in plain words, never a figure. Nothing is invented to fill a gap.
What it is made of
Skills for a Music Director and Composer resume
What this work is made of. Rung offers these and keeps the ones you claim.
What are you good at?
Creating musical compositions
Studying musical compositions
Studying scripts
Designing promotional materials
Determining presentation content
Staying informed about developments
Operating audio recording equipment
Negotiating for services
Directing fundraising activities
Auditioning or interviewing performers
Selecting performers
The work itself
What a Music Director and Composer does
The public record of what this job is, in one paragraph.
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.
What it pays
How much does a Music Director and Composer make?
Annual pay across the United States. The middle figure is the median: half earn less than that, and half earn more.
25th percentile
$53,110
Median
$73,710
75th percentile
$104,090
About 12,540 people do this work in the United States.
What it pays in each state
State
25th percentile
Median
75th percentile
AL
$35,870
$42,250
$60,080
CA
$66,810
$93,090
$126,430
CO
$59,890
$88,460
$116,670
CT
$56,180
$77,070
$119,990
DC
$77,740
$84,040
$131,260
FL
$45,710
$57,830
$75,520
GA
$60,540
$67,100
$90,880
HI
$63,230
$74,570
$92,400
IA
$51,570
$61,740
$73,080
IL
$37,470
$49,270
$65,520
IN
$51,150
$77,270
$123,790
MA
$63,800
$78,620
$114,150
MD
$51,410
$64,300
$101,350
MI
$43,710
$59,400
$78,260
MO
$48,030
$61,670
$82,030
MS
$55,750
$62,240
$75,870
MT
$47,750
$51,530
$58,220
NC
$49,610
$63,380
$82,430
NJ
$99,410
$122,750
$171,070
NY
$56,890
$82,930
$140,230
OH
$49,670
$61,380
$81,360
OK
$44,230
$54,250
$134,670
OR
$41,600
$60,800
$86,880
PA
$47,130
$61,160
$79,440
TN
$18,600
$79,640
$99,900
TX
$51,980
$65,570
$86,180
UT
$79,050
$82,570
$82,570
VA
$48,510
$59,050
$92,150
WA
$61,320
$75,060
$104,090
WI
$56,850
$78,690
$105,860
Other names
Other names for this job
composer, digital composer, film composer, music composer, score composer, arranger, artistic director, band director, band leader, band master, children's choir director, choir director.
More names for this work
choir leader, choirmaster, choral activities director, choral director, chorus master, conceptor, conductor, handbell choir director, high school band director, jingle writer, leadership director, liturgical music director, maestro, marching band director, middle school band director, music adapter, music arranger, music arts director, music director, music manager, music minister, music ministries director, music orchestrator, music pastor, music producer, music supervisor, music writer, musical director, orchestra conductor, orchestra director, orchestra leader, orchestrator, songwriter.
If you served
Military jobs this work counts as
From the crosswalk the US Department of Labor publishes itself. If one of these was your job, this page is about the civilian work it maps to.
35B1 Band
A52M Arranger
42C Army Music
022 Bandmaster
A53M Unit Leader
5502 Band Officer
3520 Music Director
5521 Ensemble Leader
5522 Production Manager
5501 Basic Music Officer
5519 Enlisted Bandleader
A51M Enlisted Band Leader
and 15 more service codes map here
Free resume help
Start with this job
Answer a few small questions and leave with a resume. Your answers stay on your own device.
A truly free resume that is yours to keep
You leave with a PDF and a Word file, and a cover letter if you want one.
Nothing to pay when you download, no account, and the resume saves to your own device.
Every question can be read aloud, and answered out loud.
Nothing to write from scratch: the lines are ready, and you choose the ones that were yours.
This page is about the occupation Music Directors and Composers. What this job involves and what it is made of come from O*NET 30.3, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, refreshed July 2026; Rung writes those records into the plain sentences you see. Pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS release for 2025. Rung is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either agency. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.