Music Directors and Composers pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $161,710 or more. The middle half of music directors and composers in Rochester earn between $57,600 and $88,460.
- $43K10th
- $58K25th
- $84KMedian
- $88K75th
- $162K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $86,610 | $7,218 | $41.64 |
| Median | $84,130 | $7,011 | $40.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,600 | $4,800 | $27.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $88,460 | $7,372 | $42.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Music Directors and Composers pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Music directors and composers in Rochester earn 18% less than the New York average ($105,520) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($90,470). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $73,710.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $86,610 | $84,130 | $43,040 | $161,710 | 180 |
| New York | $105,520 | $82,930 | $46,640 | $199,430 | 2,370 |
| United States | $90,470 | $73,710 | $39,880 | $165,760 | 12,540 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Music Directors and Composers salary after taxes in Rochester
On the average salary of $86,610, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $65,602 a year, or $5,467 a month and $2,523 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for music directors and composers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $86,610 buys what about $89,256 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Music Directors and Composers salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 4th of 5 New York metro areas for this job; Syracuse pays the most ($128,010).
- Syracuse$128,010
- New York$120,330
- Kiryas Joel$87,610
- Rochester$86,610
- Binghamton$66,130
Highest-paying cities for music directors and composers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($136,080).
- San Francisco, CA$136,080
- Las Vegas, NV$132,760
- Syracuse, NY$128,010
- Trenton, NJ$126,910
- New York, NY$120,330
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Music Directors and Composers salary in Rochester: questions
How much do music directors and composers make an hour in Rochester?
$41.64 an hour on average, and $40.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level music directors and composers salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the music directors and composers take-home pay in Rochester?
About $65,602 a year ($5,467 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $86,610. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do music directors and composers earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($90,470).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-2041; area Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 4.59, this job is 4.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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