How Much Does a Musician Make? Salary by State
Median hourly wage (U.S.)
$47.80
Musicians in the U.S. earn a median of $47.80 an hour. Half of musicians earn more than $47.80 and half earn less.
Pay percentiles for musicians
| Percentile | Hourly |
|---|---|
| 10th | $20.35 |
| 25th | $27.57 |
| 50th (median) | $47.80 |
| 75th | $75.33 |
| 90th | $132.56 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Musicians and Singers (SOC 27-2042). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
BLS reports only hourly wages for musicians, because many work part-time, seasonal or irregular schedules, so a full-year salary would be misleading. We do not convert these figures to a yearly salary.
Highest-paying states for musicians
| State | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $65.46 | +37% |
| North Carolina | $57.96 | +21% |
| Minnesota | $53.64 | +12% |
| Illinois | $53.12 | +11% |
| Hawaii | $52.59 | +10% |
| Connecticut | $50.75 | +6% |
| Virginia | $50.60 | +6% |
| Florida | $50.47 | +6% |
| Montana | $46.84 | −2% |
| Washington | $46.55 | −3% |
| United States | $47.80 | — |
Top 10 states by median hourly wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many musicians are there?
BLS counts about 36,180 musicians employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Musicians and Singers”. The most jobs are in California (6,840), New York (5,470) and Florida (2,130).
Frequently asked questions
How much do musicians make an hour?
The median hourly wage for musicians is $47.80. The middle 50% earn between $27.57 and $75.33 an hour.
Which state pays musicians the most?
Nevada has the highest median wage for musicians at $65.46, +37% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for musicians?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of musicians earn less than $20.35 an hour, a common proxy for entry-level pay.