22 Careers for Music Majors

Updated April 18, 2024

Researching the different industries and job positions you can pursue with your music degree can help you expand your job search and become aware of the unique career opportunities that are available to you. In this article, we will review 22 jobs that music majors can have, along with salary expectations, job duties and additional education requirements (if needed) for each.Related: 12 Interesting Careers for Creative People

What kind of careers can music majors have?

Music majors can find employment in a number of industries either directly related to their degree or in other areas. The following list shares a variety of career options for individuals with a degree in music or related areas. Some jobs might require further education beyond a Bachelor's Degree in Music. For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on each salary link below:

1. Actor

National average salary: $80,056 per yearPrimary duties: Actors are responsible for portraying characters in a variety of settings. They can be employed by theatre companies, theme parks, film productions and television studios to play a certain role. They should be able to read, interpret and memorize a script in order to accurately portray a character for the entertainment of the public.

2. Production assistant

National average salary: $48,292 per yearPrimary duties: A production assistant typically works as part of a film or television crew. They are responsible for assisting the production staff in several diverse job duties including coordinating travel plans, scheduling crew accommodations and scouting potential filming locations.They might also be asked to review a script for potential edits and distribute copies to the right individuals ahead of filming dates. They can also be responsible for compiling the musical soundtrack for a particular film.Related: Learn About Being a Production Assistant

3. Sound engineer

National average salary: $56,314 per yearPrimary duties: Sound engineers, also called "audio engineers," might be expected to help set up sound equipment before recordings in a studio or live shows. They can work as a part of a record company, helping rearrange and create instrumental tracks that match the vocal arrangements to create the desired song or effect.

4. Public relations assistant

National average salary: $44,106 per yearPrimary duties: Public relations assistants work in PR agencies alongside public relations specialists and other media professionals to implement successful PR campaigns for clients. As this is an entry-level position, public relations assistants might be expected to complete administrative tasks in addition to more campaign-specific responsibilities such as greeting clients, answering phone calls, creating campaign schedules and entering expense data into a Gantt chart to be considered in assessing the overall cost of the campaign.

5. Social media coordinator

National average salary: $45,353 per yearPrimary duties: A social media coordinator can work as part of a company or as a freelancer, maintaining social networking profiles for a company. Responsibilities might include creating social media posts, analyzing follower data, creating post schedules and answering customer comments on posts in a professional manner.Additional responsibilities might include attending meetings with other marketing personnel to create and implement online marketing campaigns and maintaining a company's blog.Additional education: Master's Degree in Social Media, Communication or Online MarketingRelated: Learn About Being a Social Media Manager

6. Event coordinator

National average salary: $47,418 per yearPrimary duties: An event coordinator can work for an event planning company or as a team member at an event venue. They are responsible for assisting in the preparation of events such as weddings, corporate meetings, banquets, festivals and other types of gatherings.They communicate with clients, book catering, entertainment, and might consider employing the help of a design team to transform a space. They are often expected to help oversee an event during its execution and assist in the cleanup.Additional education: Master's Degree in Communication, Event Planning or Hospitality Management

7. Theatre manager

National average salary: $51,515 per yearPrimary duties: A theatre manager oversees the operations of a production company or a particular venue. They are expected to anticipate industry trends and acquire funding for theatrical productions to be successfully executed.They are also responsible for developing and implementing marketing tactics to spread awareness about upcoming productions in order to generate ticket sales. They oversee site maintenance to make sure everything is up to code, and they communicate any production changes to the cast and crew.Additional education: Master's Degree in Theatre Arts Management

8. Librarian

National average salary: $56,415 per yearPrimary duties: A librarian can be employed at the community level or as a part of a school at the primary, secondary or collegial level. They are responsible for maintaining a library with books and other readable material, assisting people in how to find particular materials and order more reading materials whether specifically requested or ordered due to a rise in industry trends.They also might oversee a staff of individuals who are responsible for checking books in and out, and re-shelving items in the correct areas. They might also be tasked with preserving old materials for classified use.Additional education: Master's Degree in Library SciencesRelated: Learn About Being a Librarian

9. Music teacher

National average salary: $49,492 per yearPrimary duties: A music teacher can be employed at the primary or secondary levels within a school system, they can also be employed at the collegial level and more specifically employed by conservatories that specialize in the arts.Music teachers can instruct individuals or groups of students on basic music components such as music terminology, how to read music or how to play an instrument. Someone considering a career as a music teacher might consider pursuing an education major or minor in addition to their music degree.Additional education: Master's Degree in Education

10. Disc jockey (DJ)

National average salary: $36,278 per yearPrimary duties: A disco jockey, better known as a "DJ," can be self-employed or work in partnership with an event venue, night club, karaoke bar or another entertainment service. They are responsible for using their knowledge of DJ equipment such as computer software, turntables and mixers to play music tracks and create unique mash-ups between songs. A DJ might also be expected to assemble and disassemble their equipment.

11. Piano teacher

National average salary: $48,597 per yearPrimary duties: A piano teacher can work independently or as a member of a specialty school or organization, providing lessons at varying levels to children or adults. They might be responsible for setting their own hourly rates, creating their own advertisements and coordinating with students to create a set schedule for lessons. They should be able to assess the skill level of their students, assign homework and further identify and correct any mistakes to help their students improve their piano-playing skills.

12. Music director

National average salary: $33,740 per yearPrimary duties: A music director, also known as a conductor, is responsible for overseeing the audition and rehearsing process of a band or orchestra before leading a group of musicians in a performance setting. They are required to have extensive knowledge of musical scores and are tasked with selecting or composing arrangements for their musicians.As they are in a director position, they might also be expected to perform administrative duties such as creating rehearsing schedules and acting as the point of communication between different parties. They can be employed at the collegial level, concert halls, recording studios and theatre companies.Additional education: Master's Degree in Music

13. Music minister

National average salary: $30,386 per yearPrimary duties: Music ministers are often employed by church organizations and can be in charge of musical arrangements used in weekly services, weddings and funerals. They work in close coordination with church staff and those in leadership roles to determine the musical needs for a particular event. They are responsible for overseeing the rehearsals of the church choir, band or organist, and depending on the size of the congregation, they might be expected to take part in one of these other roles as well.Additional education: Master's Degree in Music Ministry

14. Promotions coordinator

National average salary: $45,532 per yearPrimary duties: A promotions coordinator is responsible for completing industry research and evaluating a company's sales data to determine the pricing of products or services. They also work in close coordination with the marketing and sales staff to come up with unique marketing plans that could generate income for the company. For someone with a music degree, they might consider working as a promotions coordinator for a particular film or theater company.Additional education: Bachelor's Degree in Marketing or Master's Degree in Marketing

15. Musician

National average salary: $47,835 per yearPrimary duties: A musician can work as part of band or orchestra in a concert hall, recording studio musician, or as a part of a musician crew on tour with an artist or theatre company. A musician is responsible for analyzing the music they are given by their employer and practicing until they achieve mastery of it. They might also be expected to attend scheduled rehearsals and perform in a group setting with other musicians.

16. Studio manager

National average salary: $50,115 per yearPrimary duties: A studio manager can be employed to oversee the operations of broadcasting, photography or music studios. They are responsible for hiring studio staff and setting rates for clients who wish to use their studio for recording purposes. They are also expected to maintain and update studio equipment as more advanced technology becomes available. They can also be tasked with creating a schedule for clients so that they don't encounter issues with overbooking the studio.

17. Specialist tours manager

National average salary: $52,462 per yearPrimary duties: A specialist tours manager can work for a traveling theatre company, music artist or other entertainment groups. They are responsible for scheduling tour dates, acquiring transportation and accommodation for the crew and performers, coordinating with venue managers and booking venues for tour dates and monitoring the financial aspects of the tour as well as any additional expenses.

18. Merchandise manager

National average salary: $54,920 per yearPrimary duties: A merchandise manager is responsible for assessing a product's value before setting a price point for it to be sold, determining how it is to be presented in stores and how much of a product will be made according to demand. Merchandise managers can be employed by the music industry to determine the sale of albums and other merchandise offered by a particular band or artist.

19. Recruiter

National average salary: $54,075 per yearPrimary duties: A recruiter can work in a number of industries. In the music industry, talent recruiters travel to different locations to identify individuals who fit the requirements of talent agents. They can help recruit musicians, singers, dancers and other performers to take part in auditions or specific entertainment gigs.

20. Media manager

National average salary: $77,052 per yearPrimary duties: A media manager can work as part of a communication or PR team for a public official or company. They are responsible for coordinating with media personnel on behalf of their employer, delivering written or oral statements. They are also responsible for writing and creating different types of media for their employer's website and social media platforms such as blog posts, news releases, PSAs, social media posts or advertisements. Their goal is to positively present their employer to the public through marketing tactics and reacting to negative press in an innovative way.Additional education: Master's Degree in Communication, PR, Journalism or Broadcasting

21. Professor

National average salary: $61,014 per yearPrimary duties: A music professor works at the college level to instruct students in areas such as vocal coaching, music composition, theory and even music history. They can also act as instructors for student musicians, providing guidance and critics of their work. Music professors are expected to be able to play multiple instruments in addition to their knowledge about music-related topics.Additional education: Master's Degree in Music, Doctorate Degree in Music

22. Historian

National average salary: $67,573 per yearPrimary duties: A music historian studies the history of music, genres, artists or instruments to provide factual information to the public. They can be employed at colleges and universities to teach students about particular musical movements or individuals, and they can also be employed by museums and research institutions.Additional education: Master's Degree in Music HistoryRelated: How To Start an Entertainment Promotion Company