SOC 27-2041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Music Directors and Composers — Salem
Salem, OR · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Salem, OR is $56,730 a year, trailing the national median of $73,710 by 23.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Salem, OR is $56,730 a year, trailing the national median of $73,710 by 23.0%. Half of workers earn between $40,350 and $86,880. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $40,340 and the ninetieth at $104,500.
Portland leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $66,800. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 261st of 434 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,340 | −45.3% |
| 25th | $40,350 | −45.3% |
| Median (50th) | $56,730 | −23.0% |
| 75th | $86,880 | +17.9% |
| 90th | $104,500 | +41.8% |
| Mean | $64,990 | −11.8% |
Other metro areas in Oregon
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland | $66,800 | 160 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Salem run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $56,730 buys what $54,865 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 25.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$56,730as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$54,865US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $56,730 a year, 23.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,340 to $104,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Portland, at $66,800.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Music Directors and Composers in Salem, OR?
The median annual wage is $56,730, or $27.27 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $73,710, so pay in Salem, OR is 23.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Salem, OR earns more than $104,500 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,340 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Portland, at $66,800 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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