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Learn everything you need to know about careers in music with our comprehensive career guides.
What degree is best for a career in music? Explore degree and program options here.
How much do artists in the music industry make? Explore salary and job outlook information here.
A disc jockey is a person who is responsible for selecting the songs and playing them for an audience at a dance party, nightclub, concert, or other event. The job of a DJ can also include scratching to create new rhythms from an existing song. DJs might use sound effects to create different styles of dance music like hip hop.
A musician is an individual who composes, conducts, plays or sings music in any form that can be appreciated by the listener. Musicians are distinguishedfrom other performers or groups of performers who do not produce music as well as musicians from non-musical disciplines such as visual performance orfilm scores.
A sound effect artist is someone who creates sounds for films, television, radio, video games, and the sound recording industry. This can range from the sound of a hand clap to an explosion. The tasks involved depend heavily on the project and where they work in the production process (sound post-production or Foley)
An audio engineer is a skilled technician who uses their knowledge of sound to enhance the quality of media, such as recordings, live sound, and television shows. They use a variety of specialized equipment, including computers, microphones, DAWs and monitors to mix sounds together, either to achieve a natural sound or create specific stylistic effects.
A foley artist performs sound effects for films, television shows, and video games. These sound effects include things like the rustling of clothing, footsteps as someone walks, or even drinking from a cup. The foley artist hasa wide range of duties, ranging from matching sounds with a scene to creating a sound effect from scratch.
Music composers often work in collaboration with other members of a production team including songwriters, instrumentalists, lyricists, vocalists, producers and other music composers. They contribute to the creation of musical soundtracks for film or television as well as create original pieces for use in various media.
A voice over artist is someone who is in the profession of voice acting, or providing the narration for various audio or video productions. This person is typically the "voice" of the characters while people are watching a film, a television show, an animated film, or other type of production.
| JOB TITLE | 50% (Median Salary) | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music Professor | $93,576 | $145,939 | $193,613 |
| Music Producer | $70,326 | $83,000 | $104,000 |
| Audio Engineer | $51,774 | $54,500 | $92,500 |
| Video Game Sound Designer | $53,336 | $73,000 | $91,500 |
| Orchestral Musician | $47,706 | $58,000 | $78,500 |
The idea of making music for a living may seem like an aspiration, rather than a viable career. But if you have the talent, skill, and dedication to learn everything you need to know, music production could be your dream job. There are three broad areas of work in which music production falls: recording, producing & engineering, and performing. It’s not too hard to see that this line of work offers plenty of room for growth & development as your career progresses.
Music is a universal language; it has the power to make people of all ages, genders, and races feel connected to one another. As of today, the music industry is worth an astounding $7.3 trillion dollars — more than the global beauty market and beating out the movie and gaming industries. With so much money to be made, it pays to have a job in music! Here are some of the highest-paying positions: Music Professor, Audio Engineer, Video Game Sound Designer, Orchestral Musician, and Music Producer.
Enrolling in a music production program can increase your career opportunities by expanding your skill set and making you a more marketable commodity in the music industry. Music production degrees vary in their focus; some programs are more vocal-driven while others may be more technical or instrument-oriented. However, the same skillset that produces a sophisticated string quartet, dubstep track, or an all-out rock anthem works in any context that requires an engineer, mixer, or producer. It’s important to choose a program that has the specific skill set you’re most interested in developing because the job market is competitive, and many people will have similar qualifications as you.
The Art Career Project is a trusted resource for emerging and professional artists.