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There are many career paths in music. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for musicians is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2026. There are no postsecondary education requirements for musicians or singers interested in performing popular music. However, many performers of classical music and opera have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Musicians and singers need extensive training and regular practice to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to interpret music at a professional level. You develop skills and abilities that make you very marketable in a wide variety of jobs from performing for live audiences as a solo performer and traveling, to being a part of bands, choruses, and orchestras, or even teaching music, whether it be private lessons or through the school system. Quite often, music majors also explore the business side of music, working in public relations, music management, arts management, marketing, production, and more.
Conservatory of Music
Musicians can have a wide variety of opportunities for gigs and even careers. Often, they’re paid by hour for specific shows or events. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly salary for musicians in 2021 was $30.49 for performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries. The top 10% earn more than $85 per hour.
Rehearsals and recording sessions are generally held between business hours, while most live performances are at night or even weekend mornings for religious services. Having a job as a musician can be interesting because there will be times when work is very busy, and time in between jobs when there isn’t as much of a high demand. Often, musicians couple their part time as a musician or singer with a permanent full-time job that often is in the same field. The best approach to determining possible musician salaries is to research them on websites like Indeed.com and Salary.com.
Through job fairs, the internship database, and internship panels, the Magner Career Center gives students in the music B.A. program access to career opportunities at a wide variety of employers, including:
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The Magner Career Center has a wealth of information on everything you need to get started in your career, help with résumés, an internships database, job fairs, etc.
