Music Jobs in the United States

Music Jobs Overview

When you think of a career in the music industry, you might start with the musicians and performers who rock out on stage. However, when you pull back the curtains, you'll discover creative professionals with a range of music jobs working behind the scenes. Whether you dream of becoming a composer, singer, songwriter, record producer, or sound engineer, there are plenty of job prospects to suit your talents and vocational goals.

While singers and musicians have the most visible jobs in the industry, you might prefer to work in areas such as production, design, education, marketing, or public relations. If you're not sure what field you're interested in, here are some music careers to consider:

• Music producer – oversees all aspects of the creative process and makes sure the piece meets the vision of the artist and the record label.
• Audio engineer - organizes recording studio sessions, captures the sound, and edits using industry-standard software and equipment.
• Music publicist – works closely with marketers, media outlets, and venues to manage a musician's public image and raise earning potential.
• Tour manager – responsible for transportation, scheduling, accommodation, and finances of a musician’s tour.
• Music teacher – works with clients to teach theory and/or a specific instrument.

If working in entertainment jobs appeal to you, expand your search to related roles such as:

• theatre jobs
• composer jobs
• movie producer jobs

Education and Skills for Music Industry Jobs

While your remarkable talent as a musician, singer, or songwriter will likely get you into the spotlight, if you are looking for a business, technical, or educational music-related job, you'll typically need a degree.

Studying for a music degree can be highly beneficial as you'll obtain practical and theoretical knowledge as well as the chance to make industry contacts and find work placements. Depending on the specific field of music you are interested in, here are some bachelor's degree programs to choose from:

• music performance
• sound design
• music education
• audio engineering
• music composition
• marketing
• music business
• public relations

To succeed in the music business, it's essential to network with your peers. Joining a professional organization can benefit you in many ways. You'll make valuable connections and learn about current opportunities, and you can also take workshops, attend conferences and earn certifications.

Although there are various jobs in the music industry that require different skill sets, the following attributes and abilities can help you get into a role that you love:

• passion for music
• resilience
• digital literacy
• excellent communication
• attention to detail
• self-discipline
• high creativity

Update Your Resume for Music Jobs

As a creative professional, you should know that resume presentation takes center stage and will help you stand out in a crowd of candidates. While design is key, remember that your resume must be easy to read with well-organized content showcasing your skills and education. Need some more inspiration? Check out our library of resume samples to get you started.

If you really want to put your resume in the limelight, don't forget to attach a compelling cover letter when you apply. Add in that extra sparkle by using attention-grabbing tactics such as a catchy slogan, testimonials, and a clear mission statement. For more help, refer to our library of cover letter tips and advice articles.

Interviewing for Jobs in Music

The best way to calm your nerves and impress the socks off the hiring manager is to show up to your interview fully prepared. That means you must research the company, dress professionally, project enthusiasm, and ask thoughtful questions. You'll also have to think about some real-life examples when answering common interview questions to prove that you have the skills you've listed on your resume.

How Much Do Music Jobs Pay?

Want to know what you're worth? In music industry jobs, your pay will depend on your education, location, and area of specialism. To put it into perspective, the median salary for a music director is $52,737, while a sound engineering techniciancan make about $24.64 per hour.

Get a glimpse of the median pay for your desired job title and location with Monster’s Salary Calculator. Here, you can compare your salary estimate with related jobs and see what skills could advance your career.

Land Your Dream Gig with Help from Monster

Are you ready to start looking for music jobs? Just create your Monster profile and start clicking on the ones you like. We can help you streamline your job search by adding your resume to our database. We'll send you custom job alerts when a new opportunity is posted in your field. Plus, we have tons of expert career advice to help you on your journey to stardom.