What the work involves, what it pays, and grounded tasks, skills, tools, and experience you can choose from.
Also called composer, digital composer, film composer and music composer.
$73,710
Median pay a year
12,540
People do this work
6
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A Music Director and Composer resume, filled in
Common skills that can help you remember what you used on the job.
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
Every line 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
Studying musical compositions, Studying scripts, Operating audio recording equipment, Negotiating for services, Directing fundraising activities, Auditioning or interviewing performers
Open to
On site, Remote
Education
Bachelor's Degree Your college, Year
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What to put on a Music Director and Composer resume
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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
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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
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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.
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.
What you can already claim as a Music Director and Composer
Below are the tasks a Music Director and Composer job is made of. Choose the ones you have really done. There is no wrong answer here, and you can change any of it later.
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You can already claim 4 of the 9 tasks this job is made of.
What you have not done yet. Determining presentation content, Staying informed about developments, Operating audio recording equipment
Your resume, already started
Music Director and Composer
Creating musical compositions
Studying musical compositions
Studying scripts
Designing promotional materials
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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. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.