Music Performance: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Salaries for Music Performance graduates vary by role and location. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,190 annually, while Music Directors and Composers earn around $63,670. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $103,385 compared to $48,215 in Alabama. Approximately 148,570 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Currently 370 accredited institutions offer Music Performance degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (339 graduates), Berklee College of Music (325 graduates), and University of Rochester (206 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 8,157 in 2010 to a peak of 7,957 in 2020, before declining slightly to 7,193 in 2023-24. This represents a 12% decrease overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

This degree prepares you for roles such as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Music Directors and Composers, and Musicians and Singers. Related occupations employ approximately 148,570 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.