Music Directors and Composers

What Music Directors and Composers Do

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.

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience

Less than 5 years

On-the-job training

None

Self-employed

25.6%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

• Fine Artsimportance 4.7/5
• English Languageimportance 3.8/5
• Education and Trainingimportance 3.5/5
• Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.4/5
• Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 3.1/5
• Philosophy and Theologyimportance 3.1/5
• Administrativeimportance 2.9/5
• Communications and Mediaimportance 2.9/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

• Freedom to Make Decisions4.7/5
• E-Mail4.6/5
• Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals4.5/5
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.5/5
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.4/5
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.3/5

Related Careers

• Musicians and Singers
• Choreographers
• Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
• Producers and Directors
• Therapists, All Other
• Writers and Authors
• Art Directors
• Film and Video Editors

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

• Public Relations Specialists97% skill match
• Human Resources Specialists97% skill match
• Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists97% skill match
• Advertising and Promotions Managers97% skill match
• Fundraisers97% skill match
• Training and Development Specialists97% skill match
• Urban and Regional Planners97% skill match
• Compensation and Benefits Managers96% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

• Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.5/5
• Coordinationimportance 3.4/5
• Persuasionimportance 3.3/5
• Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.1/5
• Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.1/5
• Time Managementimportance 3.1/5
• Management of Personnel Resourcesimportance 3.1/5
• Negotiationimportance 3.0/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

• Innovation
• Leadership Orientation
• Self-Confidence
• Intellectual Curiosity
• Social Orientation
• Achievement Orientation
• Adaptability

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

• ArtisticHigh
• EnterprisingMedium
• SocialMedium
• ConventionalLow
• InvestigativeLow
• RealisticLow

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where music directors and composers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).

1. 1Eugene-Springfield, OR8.40× national avg
2. 2Syracuse, NY4.76× national avg
3. 3Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY4.74× national avg
4. 4Rochester, NY4.59× national avg
5. 5Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY3.85× national avg

Possible Career Moves

A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.

• Art DirectorsLateral Move
• Financial ManagersCareer Change
• Marketing ManagersCareer Change
• Advertising and Promotions ManagersCareer Change

See the full career path from Music Directors and Composers →

Related Education Programs

Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.