Music Career Finder

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Performing & Writing Careers

Maybe you were born to perform. Or maybe, for you, there's nothing better than hearing a famous artist sing your songs. Welcome to the world of Performing and Writing careers!
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Female DJ using mixer during live DJ set

DJ

 DJs play a continuous mix of music via turntables, CDJs, or software at parties, clubs, bars, concert venues, raves, and music festivals. Most popular DJs also write and produce their own tracks. Learn More Avg. Salary: $49 an hour Salary Range: $21,000 to $46,000,000 Alt Titles: Nightclub DJ, Deejay, Disc Jockey, Turntablist
Asian female singer in studio with mic

Singer

 Singers record albums and perform live with a band. Singer-Songwriters also write their own tracks. Learn More Avg. Salary: $39.14 per hour Salary Range: $0 - $170,000,000 Alt Titles: Vocalist, Pop Star
Closeup on an Orchestrator's hand writing notes on sheet music

Orchestrator

 Orchestrators write scores and transpose music for an orchestra that has originally been written by a composer. Their orchestrations of music are played live by performers or recorded to be used in a... Learn More Avg. Salary: $50,596 per year Salary Range: $19K to $118K per year Alt Titles: Music Preparer, Score Adapter, Orchestral Arranger
Young Black male Drummer playing the drums

Drummer

 A Drummer is a musician who provides rhythmic accompaniment in an ensemble or band using percussion instruments like drums, cymbals, and drumsticks. Learn More Salary Range: $0 to $100,000+ Alt Titles: Percussionist
Young female Pianist at piano

Pianist

 A Pianist is a musician who plays the piano and other keyboard instruments, providing harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic elements in music, whether playing solo or as part of an ensemble, band, or... Learn More Avg. Salary: $50,934 Salary Range: $31K-$88K Alt Titles: Piano Player, Keyboardist
Young black male Music Producer in recording studio

Music Producer

 A Music Producer writes, arranges, produces and records songs for other artists or for their own projects. Learn More Avg. Salary: $88K Salary Range: $66K – $123K Alt Titles: Beat Maker, Producer, Record Producer
Female Guitarist in recording studio

Guitarist

 Guitarists are skilled performers who also frequently write and record their own music. In addition to practicing and performing, they teach, handle tasks such as booking shows, and collaborate with... Learn More Salary Range: $34 per hour or $70,781 per year (or much more) Alt Titles: Guitar Player
Songwriter with acoustic guitar writing lyrics in notebook

Songwriter

 A songwriter writes songs for other artists or for themselves to record and release, earning royalties from the usage of those songs. Learn More Avg. Salary: $89,212 Salary Range: $0 to $883,000 Alt Titles: Singer-songwriter, Staff writer, Writer
Lyricist listening to music and writing ideas in her notebook

Lyricist

 A Lyricist writes the words to a song, then seeks to have the song performed on a recording or in musicals, usually by a recording/performing artist. Learn More Avg. Salary: $58,672 Salary Range: $49k – $92k per year Alt Titles: Lyric Writer, Staff Writer, Songwriter
Ceiling of opera theatre with crowd taking their seats

Opera Singer

 An Opera Singer sings and acts out operatic pieces in a theatrical setting. Learn More Avg. Salary: $70,000 Salary Range: $60K-$200K Alt Titles: Singer, Classical Singer, Operatic Singer, Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, Countertenor, Baritone, Bass
Young female Bassist with her band

Bassist

 Bassists provide the harmonic underpinning and rhythmic groove in the context of a band or ensemble. Learn More Avg. Salary: $35,290 per year Salary Range: $12.5K—$89.5K per year Alt Titles: Bass Player
Concertmaster playing his violin

Concertmaster

 Leads violin section of the orchestra, performs as a soloist, decides on bowings for the first violins, and works closely with the Conductor. Learn More Salary Range: Up to $621,510 Alt Titles: Section Leader, 1st Violinist
Close up on a Composer's hands playing the piano

Composer

 Composers create musical scores for TV, film, and computer games. They use live musicians and sampling to evoke the intended mood or emotion to mirror what’s happening onscreen. Learn More Avg. Salary: $40,452 Salary Range: $20K-$115K Alt Titles: Melodist, Symphonist
Arranger writing notes on sheet music

Arranger

 An Arranger reworks an existing musical composition for a live performance or studio recording, adapting the instrumentation, vocals, and harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic elements to create a new... Learn More Avg. Salary: $54,400 Salary Range: $40K-$60K Alt Titles: Market Adapter, Transcriber, Music Arranger
Female Sound Designer in production studio

Sound Designer

 Sound designers create sound effects and immersive audio experiences in the worlds of film/TV, theater, concerts, and video games. Learn More Avg. Salary: $83,833 per year Salary Range: $65K to $101,500 Alt Titles: Audio Designer, Audio Artist, Sound Artist, Creative Sound Designer, Technical Sound Designer
Jazz musician playing saxophone at outdoor concert with bandmates

Jazz Musician

 Jazz Musicians are highly trained artists who perform original or repertoire jazz works in concert and in the recording studio. Learn More Avg. Salary: $50,934 Salary Range: $31K-$88K Alt Titles: Musician, Instrumentalist
Video Game Composer writing music on his keyboard in a recording studio

Video Game Composer

 Video Game Composers create musical scores for video games. Learn More Salary Range: $30,000 to $75,000+ Alt Titles: Video Game Music Composer, Composer
Male Session Musician playing the drums

Session Musician

 A Session Musician performs a backing track for another musician, while performing onstage or recording in studio. Learn More Avg. Salary: $54,600 Salary Range: Varies widely, can go up to $100,000 Alt Titles: Studio Musician, Backing Musician
Cruise ship with smaller boat on the ocean near mountains

Cruise Ship Musician

 Cruise Ship Musicians perform a wide variety of music to entertain guests on board a cruise ship. Learn More Avg. Salary: $31,500 Salary Range: $24K-$39K Alt Titles: Cruise Ship Entertainer
Session singer wearing headphones and looking at sheet music in recording studio

Session Singer

 A Session Singer sings backup with artists or provides vocals for movie, commercial, and TV scores. Learn More Avg. Salary: $40,000 Salary Range: $15,000-$65,000 Alt Titles: Background Singer, Backing Vocalist, Backup Singer, Studio Vocalist
Jingle writer composing a guitar tune in his home recording studio

Jingle Writer

 Writes music for commercials. Learn More Avg. Salary: $56,980 Salary Range: $36K-$89K Alt Titles: Commercial Jingle Composer, Jingle Composer
Copyist writing sheet music while leaning on piano

Copyist

 Transcribes musical parts from a score, either by hand or by using a computer program. Learn More Avg. Salary: $35,503 Salary Range: $20K-$56K Alt Titles: Music Copyist, Music Prep Person
Dance/Cover Band member playing his guitar and singing into microphone on stage

Dance / Cover Band

 Performs covers of popular songs so the audience can dance and have a good time at clubs, bars, casinos, lounges, and schools. Learn More Avg. Salary: $35,236 Salary Range: $18K-$68K Alt Titles: Bar Band, Tribute Band, Lounge Band, Production Show
Accompanist playing piano in open studio space

Accompanist

 An Accompanist (or Collaborative Pianist) is a Pianist who accompanies Singers, Dancers, and Instrumentalists for performances and rehearsals. Learn More Avg. Salary: $40 per hour ($83,200 per year) Salary Range: $30-56 per hour ($62,400 to $116,480 per year)   Alt Titles: Collaborative Pianist, Accompanyist
Church organist sitting with organ

Church Organist

 Plays the organ at religious services and wedding ceremonies. Learn More Avg. Salary: $29,194 Salary Range: $17K-$41K Alt Titles: Organist, Church Musician
Female show band singer holding microphone

Show Band

 Professional musicians who perform at corporate events, charity galas, holiday parties, weddings, and other private celebrations. Learn More Avg. Salary: $100,258 Salary Range: $85K - $119K Alt Titles: Show Group, Floor Show Group
Background singer with microphone in closeup

Background Singer

 The Background Singer performs solo or with other singers and musicians in a recording studio or live performance. Learn More Avg. Salary: $44,346 Salary Range: $18K-$101K Alt Titles: Singer, Studio Singer, Session Vocalist, Vocalist, Background Vocalist, Chorus Member
Rock Star on stage with her band

Rock Star

 A Rock Star is the performer in the band who commands the most attention onstage, plays a key part in writing the band’s songs, and serves as the group’s spokesperson. Learn More Avg. Salary: Millions of dollars Salary Range: $100k-$1 million+ per gig Alt Titles: Pop Star, Frontman, Frontwoman
Production Music Writer working in his recording studio

Production Music Writer

 Writes music that is usually licensed or sold to a Production Music Library. This music is then placed into TV shows, commercials, and films. The music composer generally splits their earnings with... Learn More Avg. Salary: $56,980 Salary Range: $36K - $89K Alt Titles: TV Music Writer, Commercial Music Writer, Film Music Composer, Music Producer, Jingle Writer
Recording group rehearsing in studio

Recording Group

 Records tracks that are released on albums and as singles. Learn More Avg. Salary: The SKY is the Limit! Alt Titles: Band, Recording Act, Recording Artist
percussionist

Percussionist

 A percussionist is a musician who specializes in playing instruments that produce sound through the use of striking, shaking, or scraping, such as drums, cymbals, and... Learn More Avg. Salary: $52,924 Salary Range: $24,000k — $112k Alt Titles: Drummer
backing vocalist

Backing Vocalist

 A backing vocalist, also called background singer, adds harmonies, blends their voice, and layers vocal parts to enhance the music and support the lead singer. Learn More Avg. Salary: $106,926 Salary Range: $84K - $151K Alt Titles: Background Singer