Singers and Other Musicians

Median Salary: $46,500

Many singers and other musicians across the nation share a few key professional traits. For example, self control, attention to detail, and cooperation can be essential for success in the industry, especially when blended with career training. Around 47,260 individuals were employed as singers and other musicians nationwide in 2009. With that much workplace competition, it's critical to utilize these characteristics and receive solid training, particularly if you're preparing to move up in the field.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for singers and other musicians in the U.S. was $46,500 in 2009, which works out to a median hourly wage of $22.40. Of course, income can vary with training and by place. Below, you'll find more data about singers and other musicians, including wages and job density for metro areas all over the nation.

Singers and other musicians should be skilled in:

  • Oral Expression
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Speech Recognition
  • Multilimb Coordination
  • Inductive Reasoning

Different individuals go into different careers; singers and other musicians are typically:

  • Artistic
  • Enterprising

Working as a singer or other musician requires knowledge in subjects like:

  • Fine Arts
  • English Language
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service

Related Occupations

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Below, you'll see links to more information on the top cities for this occupation (based on the number of individuals employed as singers and other musicians). Note: "Job density" refers to the proportion of singers and other musicians in each city as compared to the national average.

Alabama
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Birmingham 110 NA NA NA NA -36.5%
Arizona
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Phoenix 540 $48,700 $23.40 $79,600 $38.30 -15.7%
Tucson NA $47,600 $22.90 $60,900 $29.30 NA
California
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Los Angeles (Area) 4,840 $52,700 $25.40 $71,300 $34.30 149.2%
Oakland 450 $96,100 $46.20 $125,800 $60.50 24.9%
Oxnard 110 $71,400 $34.30 $105,300 $50.60 5%
Riverside 180 $55,200 $26.50 $80,800 $38.80 -59.4%
Sacramento 600 $51,100 $24.60 $115,500 $55.50 95%
Salinas 110 $77,500 $37.30 $83,500 $40.10 101.1%
San Diego 440 $67,100 $32.30 $107,400 $51.60 -5.8%
San Francisco (Area) 1,350 $101,900 $49.00 $126,400 $60.80 89%
San Francisco (City) 900 $107,700 $51.80 $126,900 $61.00 153%
San Jose 200 $72,700 $35.00 $85,700 $41.20 -37.6%
San Luis Obispo NA $60,800 $29.20 $64,400 $31.00 NA
Santa Barbara 90 $128,500 $61.80 $146,700 $70.50 45.9%
Colorado
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boulder 30 $54,600 $26.30 $103,400 $49.70 -45%
Colorado Springs 130 $82,700 $39.70 $95,200 $45.80 41.4%
Connecticut
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bridgeport 60 $45,100 $21.70 $79,900 $38.40 -61%
Hartford 210 $47,700 $22.90 $113,300 $54.50 3.6%
New Haven 130 $83,400 $40.10 $89,500 $43.00 29%
Norwich NA $83,400 $40.10 $92,500 $44.50 NA
District of Columbia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Washington (Area) 710 $67,700 $32.50 $79,600 $38.30 -28.2%
Florida
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bradenton NA $48,100 $23.10 $53,700 $25.80 NA
Jacksonville 150 NA NA NA NA -29.8%
Lakeland 70 $46,900 $22.50 $59,200 $28.50 3.6%
Miami (Area) 530 $29,600 $14.30 $51,000 $24.50 -37.3%
Naples 160 $39,000 $18.80 $45,500 $21.90 277.1%
Orlando 410 NA NA NA NA 15.7%
Pensacola 50 $28,100 $13.50 $39,700 $19.10 -3.9%
Tampa 390 $25,200 $12.10 $38,600 $18.60 -4.7%
Georgia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Atlanta 270 $52,100 $25.00 $87,400 $42.00 -67.1%
Hawaii
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Honolulu 360 $57,600 $27.70 $73,600 $35.40 129.3%
Illinois
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Chicago (Area) NA $34,500 $16.60 $73,000 $35.10 NA
Indiana
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Indianapolis NA $40,600 $19.50 $47,500 $22.90 NA
South Bend NA $21,300 $10.30 $24,400 $11.80 NA
Iowa
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Davenport 60 $19,300 $9.30 $39,900 $19.20 -14.6%
Des Moines 150 NA NA NA NA 25.4%
Kentucky
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Louisville 170 $29,200 $14.00 $33,700 $16.20 -20.7%
Louisiana
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
New Orleans 490 $25,400 $12.20 $39,400 $18.90 166.6%
Maine
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Portland NA $53,500 $25.70 $86,600 $41.60 NA
Maryland
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Baltimore 510 $65,100 $31.30 $73,900 $35.50 12.7%
Massachusetts
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boston (Area) NA $31,600 $15.20 $40,200 $19.30 NA
Michigan
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Ann Arbor 110 NA NA NA NA 56.6%
Detroit (Area) 790 $26,100 $12.60 $33,600 $16.10 31.5%
Kalamazoo 130 $37,500 $18.10 $41,200 $19.80 163%
Minnesota
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Minneapolis 480 NA NA NA NA -23.8%
Mississippi
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Jackson 130 $16,700 $8.00 $18,200 $8.80 42.3%
Missouri
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Kansas City 140 $44,900 $21.60 $51,900 $25.00 -59.9%
St. Louis 330 $87,300 $42.00 $104,300 $50.10 -29.8%
Nebraska
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Lincoln NA $40,400 $19.40 $83,100 $40.00 NA
Omaha 90 NA NA NA NA -42.8%
Nevada
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Las Vegas 630 $43,800 $21.10 $53,900 $25.90 102.5%
New Jersey
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Trenton 80 $30,000 $14.40 $33,500 $16.10 -1.9%
New York
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Albany 180 NA NA NA NA 13%
Binghamton 170 $63,500 $30.50 $70,800 $34.00 335.9%
Buffalo NA $16,100 $7.70 $18,700 $9.00 NA
New York (Area) 7,130 $43,600 $21.00 $83,900 $40.30 52.8%
Poughkeepsie NA $17,700 $8.50 $27,800 $13.40 NA
Rochester 350 $24,700 $11.90 $53,600 $25.80 98.9%
Syracuse 270 $30,500 $14.70 $35,700 $17.20 146.4%
Utica 120 $24,800 $11.90 $48,300 $23.20 163%
North Carolina
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Asheville 40 $48,600 $23.40 $52,600 $25.30 -28.7%
Charlotte 320 NA NA NA NA 6.1%
Durham NA $18,200 $8.70 $25,000 $12.00 NA
Greensboro 90 NA NA NA NA -28.2%
Ohio
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Akron 100 $37,400 $18.00 $56,400 $27.10 -16.6%
Cincinnati 410 $92,100 $44.30 $106,500 $51.20 14.6%
Cleveland 500 $16,600 $8.00 $38,200 $18.40 36.7%
Columbus 370 $63,500 $30.50 $76,500 $36.80 12.7%
Dayton 150 $94,000 $45.20 $102,000 $49.00 11.6%
Toledo NA $29,800 $14.30 $55,600 $26.70 NA
Oregon
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bend NA $47,700 $22.90 $51,300 $24.60 NA
Corvallis 50 NA NA NA NA 337%
Eugene 210 $65,500 $31.50 $77,800 $37.40 316.3%
Medford 50 NA NA NA NA 64.4%
Portland 650 NA NA NA NA 80.9%
Salem 50 $57,300 $27.50 $92,400 $44.40 -8%
Pennsylvania
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Allentown 80 NA NA NA NA -33.4%
Erie NA $79,400 $38.20 $113,700 $54.70 NA
Harrisburg NA $30,200 $14.50 $40,000 $19.20 NA
Lancaster 40 $18,200 $8.70 $37,200 $17.90 -49.7%
Philadelphia (Area) NA NA NA NA NA NA
Pittsburgh 310 NA NA NA NA -22.7%
Scranton 70 $27,300 $13.10 $34,200 $16.40 -22.4%
Rhode Island
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Providence 240 $44,900 $21.60 $60,800 $29.20 21.8%
South Carolina
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Charleston 120 $24,900 $12.00 $29,200 $14.00 14.1%
Myrtle Beach NA $15,400 $7.40 $16,200 $7.80 NA
Tennessee
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Memphis 130 $27,200 $13.10 $31,900 $15.40 -39.8%
Nashville 1,690 $67,100 $32.30 $85,000 $40.90 550.3%
Texas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Austin 240 $21,000 $10.10 $46,200 $22.20 -14.4%
Dallas (Area) 960 $38,300 $18.40 $51,200 $24.60 -7.2%
Houston 480 $26,100 $12.60 $30,200 $14.50 -47.8%
San Antonio NA $32,500 $15.60 $57,300 $27.60 NA
Utah
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Salt Lake City 310 $70,000 $33.60 $78,700 $37.90 39.5%
Virginia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Richmond 130 $31,700 $15.20 $59,800 $28.80 -39%
Virginia Beach NA $32,600 $15.70 $47,200 $22.70 NA
Washington
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Seattle (Area) 560 $54,500 $26.20 $65,700 $31.60 9.9%
Wisconsin
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Appleton 40 $30,900 $14.90 $34,600 $16.60 0.8%
Milwaukee 380 $58,900 $28.30 $78,500 $37.80 27.3%