Paycheck Atlas

Music Directors and Composers salary in Washington, DC

The median music directors and composers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV earns $78,760 a year, 7% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $4,795 a month.

10th percentile
$42,910
25th percentile
$56,040
Median percentile
$78,760
75th percentile
$124,790
90th percentile
$144,110

Based on 320 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$57,543 take-home a year
Gross pay$78,760
Federal income tax−$8,497
Social Security + Medicare−$6,025
District of Columbia income tax (approx.)−$6,695
Monthly take-home$4,795
Every two weeks$2,213

Does it go far here?

$72,334Median pay in Washington, DC is worth this at average US prices (local price level 108.9 vs 100).
42%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,027 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Washington, DC

JobMedian pay
Psychiatrists$246,990
Emergency Medicine Physicians$239,200
Family Medicine Physicians$225,140
General Internal Medicine Physicians$223,250
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$209,750
Physicians, All Other$208,710
Public Relations Managers$195,190
Computer and Information Systems Managers$195,190

All music directors and composers salaries · Take-home pay in District of Columbia