Musicians and Singers
SOC code 27-2042 · O*NET-SOC 27-2042.00 · Considerable preparation needed
Musicians and Singers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
—
a year
Hourly
$47.80
per hour
Average pay
—
$60.46 per hour
Middle 50%
— – —
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
— – —
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
36,180
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- —
- $20.35/hr
- 25th percentile
- —
- $27.57/hr
- Median percentile
- —
- $47.80/hr
- 75th percentile
- —
- $75.33/hr
- 90th percentile
- —
- $132.56/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+1%
Growing about as fast as average
169,800
jobs in 2024
171,600
projected for 2034
About 1,800 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do musicians and singers do?
Play one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Perform before live audiences in concerts, recitals, educational presentations, and other social gatherings.
- Practice performances, individually or in rehearsal with other musicians, to master individual pieces of music or to maintain and improve skills.
- Sing as a soloist or as a member of a vocal group.
- Specialize in playing a specific family of instruments or a particular type of music.
- Play musical instruments as soloists, or as members or guest artists of musical groups such as orchestras, ensembles, or bands.
- Interpret or modify music, applying knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm, and voice production to individualize presentations and maintain audience interest.
- Provide the musical background for live shows, such as ballets, operas, musical theatre, and cabarets.
- Play from memory or by following scores.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
Can you become a musicians and singers without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is musicians and singers in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 1% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Speaking3.4/5
- Active Listening3.3/5
- Monitoring3.3/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Writing2.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Fine Arts4.8/5
- Education and Training2.9/5
- English Language2.8/5
- Administration and Management2.7/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.5/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Time Management.