Music Directors and Composers
SOC Code: 27-2041 Job Zone 4: Considerable Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Music Directors and Composers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $50,274 | $92,019 | $133,786 | $175,531 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $47,507 | $85,592 | $123,698 | $161,782 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $47,798 | $85,259 | $122,741 | $160,202 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $60,091 | $91,582 | $123,094 | $154,586 |
| New Haven, CT | $51,293 | $84,822 | $118,352 | $151,882 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $45,219 | $80,330 | $115,461 | $150,571 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $50,086 | $83,158 | $116,230 | $149,302 |
| Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $49,858 | $82,888 | $115,898 | $148,928 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $44,179 | $78,478 | $112,778 | $147,077 |
| Syracuse, NY | $42,432 | $75,795 | $109,138 | $142,501 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Bard College | 5 | $46,967 |
| STL TONES (US), INC | 4 | $74,500 |
| Golden State Youth Orchestra | 3 | $76,667 |
| Tyler Independent School District | 3 | $55,750 |
| TINY GIANTS CO INC | 3 | $88,053 |
| East Side Studios LLC | 2 | $66,000 |
| Amplified Cactus LLC | 2 | $43,250 |
| Fei Tian College | 2 | $36,500 |
| CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF EDINA | 2 | $52,114 |
| Catalina United Methodist Church | 2 | $50,471 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | $53,743 |
| 2021 | 2 | $51,000 |
| 2022 | 9 | $50,545 |
| 2023 | 26 | $60,865 |
| 2024 | 42 | $87,885 |
| 2025 | 59 | $64,749 |
| 2026 | 7 | $86,049 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.9 | |
| Speaking | 3.6 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.5 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 | |
| Active Learning | 3.4 | |
| Coordination | 3.4 | |
| Writing | 3.4 | |
| Monitoring | 3.2 | |
| Persuasion | 3.2 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Fine Arts | 4.7 |
| English Language | 3.8 |
| Education and Training | 3.5 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.4 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.1 |
| Philosophy and Theology | 3.1 |
| Administrative | 2.9 |
| Communications and Media | 2.9 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 28.2% |
| Bachelor's degree | 24.0% |
| Post-first professional | 20.6% |
| Associate's degree | 7.9% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 6.2% |
| Less than high school | 5.1% |
| High school diploma | 3.8% |
| Master's degree | 2.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.9% |
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.
- Experiment with different sounds, and types and pieces of music, using synthesizers and computers as necessary to test and evaluate ideas.
- Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Anvil Studio Apple Final Cut Pro Apple MainStage Arobas Music Guitar Pro Arpege Music Pizzicato Audacity Audio Chaos Soundscape Generator Audiveris Avid Pro Tools Avid Technology Sibelius
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