Music Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Music Technology integrates artistic expression with cutting-edge digital tools, equipping learners to innovate at the intersection of sound, software, and performance. This interdisciplinary field emphasizes both creative development and technical mastery, preparing graduates for dynamic careers in music production, multimedia design, and interactive audio systems.
- Music Theory and History: Explores foundational principles of harmony, melody, and rhythm, alongside the evolution of musical styles across time and cultures.
- Composition and Arrangement: Develops skills in crafting original musical works using both traditional and digital methods, tailored for diverse media contexts.
- Acoustics and Signal Processing: Investigates the physical properties of sound and techniques for manipulating audio signals in digital environments.
- Recording and Audio Engineering: Focuses on professional-grade techniques for capturing, editing, and refining audio in studio and live settings.
- Computer-Assisted Composition: Teaches the use of software environments and algorithms to generate, structure, and realize musical ideas programmatically.
- Electronic Music Synthesis: Covers the design and manipulation of sound through oscillators, filters, modulation, and modular systems.
- Technology-Based Performance: Explores live performance practices using controllers, MIDI, real-time processing, and interactive systems.
- 3D Sound and Spatial Audio: Addresses advanced techniques for creating immersive audio experiences through binaural rendering, ambisonics, and environment modeling.
- Music Business and Law: Provides insight into intellectual property rights, licensing, revenue models, and industry practices essential for professional sustainability.
Music Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Music Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Music Technology degrees, including Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Sound Engineering Technicians and Music Directors and Composers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 131,440 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
| Sound Engineering Technicians 27-4014 | $66,430 | $36,600 - $134,980 | 13,050 | $31.94 |
| Music Directors and Composers 27-2041 | $63,670 | $34,990 - $157,010 | 12,330 | $30.61 |
| Disc Jockeys, Except Radio 27-2091 | N/A | N/A | 8,170 | $20.59 |
Music Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $49,480 in South Dakota to $105,345 in New Jersey—a 113% difference. The highest-paying states include New Jersey, Hawaii, and Rhode Island. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 131,440 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Music Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Music Technology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Music Technology is found at Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) (403 graduates), Full Sail University (310 graduates), Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) (132 graduates), Southern Utah University (SUU) (83 graduates), and Shoreline Community College (73 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,918 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
403 | Hollywood, California | Private | lafilm.edu |
| Full Sail University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
310 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | fullsail.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
132 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Southern Utah University (SUU) |
Master's
|
83 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | suu.edu |
| Shoreline Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
73 | Shoreline, Washington | Public | shoreline.edu |
| Portland Community College (PCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
58 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pcc.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Atlanta Institute of Music and Media (AIMM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
42 | Duluth, Georgia | Private | aimm.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
35 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Associate's
|
29 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| University of New Haven (UNH) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | West Haven, Connecticut | Private | newhaven.edu |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Public | millersville.edu |
| Valencia College |
Associate's
|
24 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | San Francisco, California | Private | sfcm.edu |
| Stevens Institute of Technology |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Hoboken, New Jersey | Private | stevens.edu |
| St Petersburg College (SPC) |
Associate's
|
21 | St. Petersburg, Florida | Public | spcollege.edu |
| Schenectady County Community College (SUNY SCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
20 | Schenectady, New York | Public | sunysccc.edu |
| Terra State Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Fremont, Ohio | Public | terra.edu |
| Daytona State College (DSC) |
Associate's
|
14 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Public | daytonastate.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Broward College (BC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Public | broward.edu |
| University of North Carolina Asheville (UNCA) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Asheville, North Carolina | Public | unca.edu |
| Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) |
Other Award
|
13 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | ccp.edu |
| University of Silicon Valley (USV) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
12 | San Jose, California | Private | usv.edu |
| CUNY City College (CCNY) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | New York, New York | Public | ccny.cuny.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
12 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| Seattle Film Institute (SFI) |
Master's
|
12 | Seattle, Washington | Private | sfi.edu |
| Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | loyno.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Oberlin College |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
11 | Oberlin, Ohio | Private | oberlin.edu |
| Owens Community College (OCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Perrysburg, Ohio | Public | owens.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| American InterContinental University (AIU) |
Other Award
|
10 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | aiuniv.edu |
| Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
10 | Pasadena, California | Private | lacm.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| Albright College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Reading, Pennsylvania | Private | albright.edu |
| Lebanon Valley College (LVC) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Annville, Pennsylvania | Private | lvc.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Other Award
|
9 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Keene State College (KSC) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Keene, New Hampshire | Public | keene.edu |
| CUNY Hostos Community College |
Associate's
|
8 | Bronx, New York | Public | hostos.cuny.edu |
| DigiPen Institute of Technology |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Redmond, Washington | Private | digipen.edu |
| American InterContinental University (AIU) |
Other Award
|
8 | Houston, Texas | Private | aiuniv.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| College of the Desert (COD) |
Other Award
|
7 | Palm Desert, California | Public | collegeofthedesert.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Millikin University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Decatur, Illinois | Private | millikin.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Coastal Carolina University (CCU) |
Master's
|
7 | Conway, South Carolina | Public | coastal.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Other Award
|
7 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| University of St Francis (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Joliet, Illinois | Private | stfrancis.edu |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey |
Master's
|
6 | Mahwah, New Jersey | Public | ramapo.edu |
| Samford University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| California Baptist University (CBU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Riverside, California | Private | calbaptist.edu |
| Bethune-Cookman University (B‑CU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Private | cookman.edu |
| Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Godfrey, Illinois | Public | lc.edu |
| University of Saint Francis (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Private | sf.edu |
| SUNY Broome Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
5 | Binghamton, New York | Public | sunybroome.edu |
| Belmont University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| Champlain College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Burlington, Vermont | Private | champlain.edu |
| University of Mobile |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Mobile, Alabama | Private | umobile.edu |
| Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | San Diego, California | Private | pointloma.edu |
| Mott Community College |
Associate's
|
4 | Flint, Michigan | Public | mcc.edu |
| Culver-Stockton College (C‑SC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Canton, Missouri | Private | culver.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
|
4 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| University of Valley Forge (UVF) |
Master's
|
4 | Phoenixville, Pennsylvania | Private | valleyforge.edu |
| Dallas College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
4 | Dallas, Texas | Public | dallascollege.edu |
| Scottsdale Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
3 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | scottsdalecc.edu |
| The Master's University and Seminary (TMU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Santa Clarita, California | Private | masters.edu |
| Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) |
Associate's
|
3 | Fort Myers, Florida | Public | fsw.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
3 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| Transylvania University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Lexington, Kentucky | Private | transy.edu |
| Manhattanville College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Purchase, New York | Private | mville.edu |
| Oral Roberts University (ORU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Private | oru.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Other Award
|
3 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
2 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Arizona Christian University (ACU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Glendale, Arizona | Private | arizonachristian.edu |
| Connecticut College (Conn) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | New London, Connecticut | Private | conncoll.edu |
| Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Niceville, Florida | Public | nwfsc.edu |
| LaGrange College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Lagrange, Georgia | Private | lagrange.edu |
| Principia College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Elsah, Illinois | Private | principiacollege.edu |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Public | pfw.edu |
| Buena Vista University (BVU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Storm Lake, Iowa | Private | bvu.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Rochester, Minnesota | Public | rctc.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Clackamas Community College (CCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Oregon City, Oregon | Public | clackamas.edu |
| Providence College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | providence.edu |
| Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU) |
Associate's
|
2 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | trevecca.edu |
| Utah Tech University (UT) |
Other Award
|
2 | Saint George, Utah | Public | utahtech.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| Hampton University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Hampton, Virginia | Private | hamptonu.edu |
| Whittier College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Whittier, California | Private | whittier.edu |
| Arapahoe Community College (ACC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Littleton, Colorado | Public | arapahoe.edu |
| Community College of Aurora (CCA) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Aurora, Colorado | Public | ccaurora.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Music Technology programs
How much can I earn with a Music Technology degree?
Salaries for Music Technology graduates vary by role and location. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,190 annually, while Sound Engineering Technicians earn around $66,430. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in New Jersey average $105,345 compared to $49,480 in South Dakota. Approximately 131,440 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Music Technology programs?
Currently 120 accredited institutions offer Music Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) (403 graduates), Full Sail University (310 graduates), and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) (132 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Music Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 179 in 2010 to 1,938 in 2023-24. This represents a 983% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Music Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Sound Engineering Technicians, and Music Directors and Composers. Related occupations employ approximately 131,440 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.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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