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Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical education: Master's degreeLower pressure

What they do

Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $78,620 Median per year Most earn $47,570–$163,350

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Evaluate and grade students' class work, performances, projects, assignments, and papers.
  • Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
  • Maintain or repair studio facilities.
  • Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Participate in campus and community events.
  • Keep students informed of community events, such as plays and concerts.

Job outlook

United States
2% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 8,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools82.7%
  • Junior colleges14.5%
  • Other schools and instruction2.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Master's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This is not an entry-level job. Most people need a bachelor's degree, then work for a few years, then earn a master's degree (often an MFA or master's in music) before teaching at a college or university. Plan on roughly 6 to 9 years of school and work after high school.

  1. Bachelor's degree in studio art, music, theatre, or design

    4 years

    You build core skills in your art form and start a portfolio or performance record, which you will need for graduate school.

  2. Self-Enrichment Teacher

    1-2 years

    You teach classes at art studios, music schools, or community centers, which builds real teaching experience and shows graduate programs you can instruct others.

  3. Master's degree in fine arts, music, or theatre (MFA, MM, or similar)

    2-3 years

    You deepen your practice, often serve as a teaching assistant for college courses, and build the professional record that colleges look for when hiring teachers.

  4. Art, Drama, and Music Teacher, Postsecondary

    2-4 years of related work before this job is typical

    You teach college or university courses in art, drama, or music, and may also do research or creative work alongside teaching.

Where it can lead

  1. Department Chair, Art, Music, or Theatre

    5-10 years of experience first

    You take on leadership of a department, handling course planning, budgets, and hiring, which usually requires a strong teaching and service record.

  2. Instructional Coordinator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move from teaching into designing curriculum and training for schools or programs, which uses a master's degree and your teaching experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take all the art, music, or theatre classes your school offersRegular practice in your strongest art form builds the skills and portfolio you will need for college programs.
  • Build a portfolio or performance recordingColleges and graduate programs ask for samples of your work, so start collecting your best pieces or performances now.
  • Join a school club, ensemble, or production crewBand, choir, drama club, or the art club shows you can work in a group and gives you performance or exhibit experience.
  • Volunteer as a helper in a younger class or campHelping kids at a community center, library, or summer camp gives you early practice explaining skills to others.
  • Take a part-time or summer job at an arts venue or studioWorking at a theater, music school, or art supply store shows you how arts organizations run and builds useful contacts.

In college

  • Major in studio art, music, theatre, or designYour major is the core degree you need before a master's program in this field.
  • Work as a tutor or lab or studio assistantHelping classmates or running a studio gives you teaching experience and a reference from a faculty member.
  • Teach a class, workshop, or lesson seriesLeading a workshop at a community arts center or teaching private lessons builds the teaching record that later jobs require.
  • Get involved in arts student organizationsGroups that organize exhibits, concerts, or productions teach planning and leadership skills and help you meet working artists.
  • Build relationships with your professorsFaculty can advise you on graduate programs, write strong recommendation letters, and sometimes offer research or assistant roles.

Tips for getting started

  • Keep a portfolio, recital record, or performance log starting now. Colleges hiring arts teachers look closely at your creative work as well as your grades.
  • Look for chances to teach or assist, like tutoring younger students, leading workshops, or helping in a music or art class. Teaching experience counts heavily for later jobs.
  • Talk with arts teachers and working artists in your area about how they got where they are. Their paths often differ from the standard one, and they can point you to good programs.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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