42 Music Industry Jobs, Ranked by Fit and Pay (2026)

Median pay

$104,110median (parent occupation)

Growth

↗+11.2%

Openings / yr

17,800

Education

Bachelor's

Designs how buildings, concert halls, studios and products sound, and solves noise and vibration problems for architects and owners.

Median pay

$82,890median (parent occupation)

Growth

↗+9.7%

Openings / yr

2,400

Education

Bachelor's

Finds promising artists and songwriters for a record label or music publisher, helps sign them, and guides their recordings toward release.

Median pay

$77,930median a year

Growth

↗+12.6%

Openings / yr

3,600

Education

Bachelor's

Plan, organize, direct, or assess clinical and evidenced-based music therapy interventions to positively influence individuals' physical, psychological, cognitive, or behavioral status.

Median pay

$75,420median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+3.7%

Openings / yr

3,100

Education

Bachelor's

Edits and syncs the score and songs in films and TV shows, building temp tracks and preparing every cue for recording and the final mix.

Median pay

$73,710median a year

Growth

→+1.2%

Openings / yr

4,200

Education

Bachelor's

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.

Median pay

$73,710median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+1.2%

Openings / yr

4,200

Education

Bachelor's

Chooses and licenses the songs and recordings heard in films, TV shows, ads and video games, balancing the story's needs against the music budget.

Median pay

$73,710median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+1.2%

Openings / yr

4,200

Education

Bachelor's

Turns a composer's sketches into full scores for orchestra, assigning every line to specific instruments for film, games, theater and concerts.

Median pay

$73,710median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+1.2%

Openings / yr

4,200

Education

Bachelor's

Writes original music for video games, often built in layers that change as the player explores, fights or reaches new areas.

Median pay

$73,130median a year

Growth

↘−3.1%

Openings / yr

1,000

Education

Certificate

Assemble and operate equipment to record, synchronize, mix, edit, or reproduce sound, including music, voices, or sound effects, for theater, video, film, television, podcasts, sporting events, and other productions.

Median pay

$69,990median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+2.7%

Openings / yr

115,700

Education

High school

Pitches a label's or publisher's catalog for use in films, TV, ads and games, and negotiates the licenses that place songs on screen.

Median pay

$68,270median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+2.6%

Openings / yr

12,600

Education

Bachelor's

Prepares, marks and manages the sheet music an orchestra, opera or ballet company plays, making sure every musician has the right parts.

Median pay

$68,060median (parent occupation)

Growth

↘−4.8%

Openings / yr

600

Education

Certificate

Programs the lighting consoles that control moving lights, LED fixtures and effects for concerts, theater, TV and live events.

Median pay

$62,640median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+3.9%

Openings / yr

1,700

Education

High school

Hangs the lights, speakers, video walls and scenery for concerts, arena shows and theatres from overhead steel, safely and against the clock.

Median pay

$61,390median (parent occupation)

Growth

→0.0%

Openings / yr

400

Education

High school

Designs, sets up and fires fireworks and stage pyrotechnics for concerts, sports events, theme parks and public displays.

Median pay

$61,160median (parent occupation)

Growth

↗+5.8%

Openings / yr

16,800

Education

Bachelor's

Finances, books and markets concerts, deciding which artists play where, when, and at what ticket price.

Median pay

$61,160median (parent occupation)

Growth

↗+5.8%

Openings / yr

16,800

Education

Bachelor's

Runs the day-to-day business of a music tour, from schedules and travel to show settlements and the tour budget.

Median pay

$61,160median (parent occupation)

Growth

↗+5.8%

Openings / yr

16,800

Education

Bachelor's

Books the artists who play a venue, festival or concert series, negotiating fees and building a calendar that sells tickets.

Median pay

$61,160median (parent occupation)

Growth

↗+5.8%

Openings / yr

16,800

Education

Bachelor's

Manages the technical side of a concert tour or large event, coordinating crews, trucks, staging, sound, lighting and video at every venue.

Median pay

$58,100median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+3.9%

Openings / yr

6,600

Education

Certificate

Mixes the sound the audience hears at concerts and live events from a console out in the venue.

Median pay

$58,100median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+3.9%

Openings / yr

6,600

Education

Certificate

Mixes the sound performers hear on stage through wedges and in-ear monitors, so they can play and sing in time and in tune.

Median pay

$58,100median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+3.9%

Openings / yr

6,600

Education

Certificate

Plans and manages the radio frequencies used by wireless microphones, in-ear monitors and intercoms at concerts, stadiums and broadcasts.

Median pay

$58,100median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+3.9%

Openings / yr

6,600

Education

Certificate

Designs everything an audience hears in a stage production, from the speaker system and microphones to sound effects and underscoring.

Median pay

$55,310median a year

Growth

→+3.1%

Openings / yr

600

Education

High school

Create new dance routines.

Median pay

$50,670median (parent occupation)

Growth

↘−5.6%

Openings / yr

144,100

Education

Bachelor's

Tracks, calculates and audits the royalties owed to songwriters, artists and rights holders at labels, publishers and collecting societies.

Median pay

$47,340median a year

Growth

↘−7.6%

Openings / yr

2,000

Education

Bachelor's

Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media.

Median pay

$46,420median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+1.9%

Openings / yr

600

Education

High school

Sets up, tunes, maintains and repairs a band's instruments and amplifiers on tour and at concerts.

Median pay

$46,420median a year

Growth

→+1.9%

Openings / yr

600

Education

High school

Repair percussion, stringed, reed, or wind instruments.

Median pay

$46,420median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+1.9%

Openings / yr

600

Education

High school

Tunes, regulates, repairs and restores acoustic pianos for homes, schools, churches, recording studios and concert halls.

Median pay

$46,420median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+1.9%

Openings / yr

600

Education

High school

Builds, installs, restores and maintains pipe organs in churches, concert halls and universities.

Median pay

$159,670median (parent occupation)

Growth

↗+4.7%

Openings / yr

28,700

Education

Doctorate

Negotiates and drafts deals for musicians, actors, writers, studios and labels, and handles rights, copyright and contract disputes.

Median pay

$100,390median (parent occupation)

Growth

↘−7.3%

Openings / yr

4,400

Education

Bachelor's

Writes the software that plays, mixes and processes sound in video games, connecting audio middleware to the game engine.

Median pay

$82,890median a year

Growth

↗+9.7%

Openings / yr

2,400

Education

Bachelor's

Represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes in dealings with current or prospective employers.

Median pay

$78,760median (parent occupation)

Growth

↗+7.0%

Openings / yr

82,000

Education

Bachelor's

Builds deals between brands, such as co-branded products, sponsorships and joint campaigns, that reach new customers for both partners.

Median pay

$78,620median a year

Growth

→+2.2%

Openings / yr

8,000

Education

Master's

Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts.

Median pay

$76,910median a year

Growth

↘−0.3%

Openings / yr

11,900

Education

Bachelor's

Create original written works, such as scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics, for publication or performance.

Median pay

$73,130median (parent occupation)

Growth

↘−3.1%

Openings / yr

1,000

Education

Certificate

Performs and records everyday sounds, such as footsteps, clothing rustle and prop handling, in sync with picture for film, TV and games.

Median pay

$73,130median (parent occupation)

Growth

↘−3.1%

Openings / yr

1,000

Education

Certificate

Creates and implements the sound effects, ambience and audio behavior in video games, from footsteps to spell casts.

Median pay

$73,130median (parent occupation)

Growth

↘−3.1%

Openings / yr

1,000

Education

Certificate

Leads the audio team on a video game, setting the sound and music vision and managing the people, budget and tools that deliver it.

Median pay

$73,130median (parent occupation)

Growth

↘−3.1%

Openings / yr

1,000

Education

Certificate

Blends dialogue, music and sound effects into the final soundtrack of a film or TV show on a mixing stage.

Median pay

$68,060median (parent occupation)

Growth

↘−4.8%

Openings / yr

600

Education

Certificate

Designs the lighting for theatre, dance, opera, concerts and live events, shaping mood, focus and timing of every moment.

Median pay

$58,100median a year

Growth

→+3.9%

Openings / yr

6,600

Education

Certificate

Set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment, such as microphones, sound speakers, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, video cameras, video monitors and servers, and related electronic e…

Median pay

$58,100median (parent occupation)

Growth

→+3.9%

Openings / yr

6,600

Education

Certificate

Plans, records, edits and publishes podcast episodes for media companies, brands and independent hosts.