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Career

Musicians and Singers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure

What they do

Play one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.

Kinds of work

  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.

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 $99,424 Median per year · $47.80/hr

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Teach music for specific instruments.
  • Practice singing exercises and study with vocal coaches to develop voice and skills and to rehearse for upcoming roles.
  • Promote their own or their group's music by participating in media interviews and other activities.
  • Make or participate in recordings in music studios.
  • Practice performances, individually or in rehearsal with other musicians, to master individual pieces of music or to maintain and improve skills.
  • Specialize in playing a specific family of instruments or a particular type of music.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 17,400 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

  • Self-employed (their own business)47.8%

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: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Musician or singer is usually not a job you start straight out of school. Most people build skills through a music degree or years of training, then spend about 2 to 4 years performing before they land steady work, and many musicians combine several gigs or teaching jobs.

  1. High school music training

    4 years

    Take lessons, join band, choir, or orchestra, and perform as often as you can to build your skills and show colleges what you can do.

  2. Bachelor's degree in music performance

    4 years

    Study your instrument or voice, music theory, and ensemble playing, which gives you the training and connections most performing jobs expect.

  3. Gigging or session musician

    2 to 4 years

    Play in local bands, orchestras, weddings, venues, or recording sessions to build a reputation, a network, and a portfolio of performances.

  4. Musician

    Ongoing

    You perform live, in studios, or for broadcasts, often mixing several gigs, teaching, or other music work to earn a living.

Where it can lead

  1. Music Director

    4 to 6 years of experience first

    You lead rehearsals, choose repertoire, and guide other performers, which usually requires a strong performing record and often a master's degree in music.

  2. Producer

    2 to 4 years of experience first

    You oversee recordings, shows, or productions, managing budgets, schedules, and creative decisions, which builds on your performance experience and industry contacts.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take private lessonsRegular lessons with a skilled teacher build the technique and musical knowledge that music programs and auditions look for.
  • Join school band, choir, or orchestraEnsemble experience teaches you to play or sing with others, read music, and perform under pressure.
  • Play at open mics, church, or community eventsReal audiences help you get comfortable performing and start building your reputation.
  • Start a small band or duetForming your own group teaches you collaboration, songwriting or arranging, and how to organize gigs.
  • Get a part-time job at a music shop or teaching younger studentsThese jobs keep you around music, build responsibility, and can help you earn money from your skills.

In college

  • Major in music performance or take performance and theory coursesA bachelor's degree is the typical training for this career, and performance courses build the skills you will need on stage or in the studio.
  • Audition for ensembles and join student groupsPlaying in college ensembles gives you regular performance experience and connections with other musicians.
  • Take paid gigs through campus or local venuesPaid performances build professional experience and show that you can deliver under real working conditions.
  • Use campus recording studios or music technology labsRecording experience helps you make a demo and understand how music is produced, which many employers and bookers ask about.
  • Take a business, marketing, or social media courseKnowing how to promote yourself, book shows, and manage your income helps you keep working as a freelance musician.

Tips for getting started

  • Start building a portfolio now: record short videos or audio of your best playing or singing, and keep them updated.
  • Play with as many different people and groups as you can, since many musicians find work through referrals from other musicians.
  • Learn some basics of business, such as how to promote yourself, book gigs, and handle contracts, because most musicians need these skills to stay working.

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

  • Music Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $34,293 a year · typical debt $23,204
  • Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $29,608 a year · typical debt $22,375

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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