Music Teacher Salary
How Much Does a Music Teacher Make?
When teaching music, you don’t only teach what you know, but you’ll also improve as a musician. It’s a satisfying career, and it can be rare to earn your income from doing something you truly love.
There are several ways to use your passion for teaching and music skills to make a living. According to ZipRecruiter, the average music teacher salary is $53,356 a year. This makes an hourly rate of around $26.50.
There are several states where the standard wage is above the national average for a job as a music teacher. California tops as number one, with Massachusetts and Washington following.
In Washington, particularly the city of Renton, the average music teacher salary is at $61,896 per year. Massachusetts follows with Boston, Lowell, and Dedham reaching an annual salary of $62,917. While Richmond, Piedmont, and San Mateo in California tops at an annual salary of $63,928
There are many schools currently recruiting for music teaching jobs. In fact, California has a very active music teacher job market. The prospects for economic development as a music teacher tend to be highly fruitful.
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Employee Compensations
Gross profits before taxes and deduction for some teachers reach around $70,000. Extra compensation, such as insurance, incentives, profit-sharing, or commissions is not included. Thus, a music teacher can receive more depending on what their employer can offer.
Some institutions may even offer bonuses on top of the regular benefits. Pursuing a music teacher career which aligns with your passion can also lead to good financial income.
If you work for a music school or academy, sales commissions may be offered for those you invite into the school. These could be your students or anyone who enrolls in a music class. So if you’re good at marketing or networking to invite new students, this option can provide you with additional income.
These bonuses, especially the likes of profit-sharing and commissions, may not be common. But if you can find institutions that offer bonuses, they may provide another form of income on top of your salary.
Average Music Teacher Salary
A music teacher’s salary doesn’t only depend on the city or state they teach in. The level of education that a teacher provides also affects their level of income.
But teaching at elementary level doesn’t mean earning less compared to a college professor. Again, different factors dictate a music teacher salary.
Primary School Music Teachers
Middle School Music Teachers
High School Music Teachers
College Music Professors
Private Music School Teachers and Tutors
Primary School Music Teachers
Being an elementary music teacher can be hugely rewarding. This is a perfect choice for someone who loves kids and music. You can also choose from part-time and full-time options for primary school teachers.
For elementary or primary music teachers, the average annual salary is $62,483. This works out to be around $30.04 an hour.
The highest annual income reached about $127,000 and the lowest at $17,000. The lowest would account for basic part-timers. The majority of salaries for full-time primary school music teachers currently range from $39,500 to $79,500.
In general, about 7 to 10 states pay above the nationwide average.
These include New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. These states are among the highest paying locations based on data collected from 2017 to the present.
As a primary music teacher, shifting locations can give you financial benefits if you are happy to consider relocating. It’s of course recommended that you check the different opportunities available, as there are cities which pay higher rates.
New York always ranks in the top state for the highest elementary music teacher salary. Cities in California also rank high consistently. San Francisco alone has an annual rate of $79,315. This is followed by Fremont and a few other Californian cities.
Also belonging to the top-paying cities for primary music teachers are Alaska, Wyoming, and Connecticut.
Middle School Music Teachers
Teachers in middle schools need to have a deeper understanding of different musical concepts. As part of the curriculum they will need to teach music theory and basic instrument knowledge. Being able to create engaging lesson plans as kids grow older is also important.
At this level of teaching, music teachers are usually responsible for one or two performances a year. It’s therefore really important to understand how to direct a group of teenagers.
How much does a music teacher make in middle schools? According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly rate is $31.54. This makes a total income of around $65,594 a year.
Their rates are a little bit higher compared to primary music teachers. However, as stated earlier, a teacher’s salary is affected by their location, level of education, and experience.
The state of New York tops the list for being above the national average for this category. It offers an annual average salary of $77,890.
About 38% of all middle school music teacher salaries range between $38,500 to $49,000. And around 20% belong to the 90th percentile who receive between $122,000 to $133,000.
The cities with the highest salary average are New York, San Mateo in California, and Juneau in Alaska.
High School Music Teachers
Not all primary and middle schools offer music programs in their curriculum, but almost all high schools do. After all, music is almost always an elective subject in high school.
Besides solid teaching credentials, a high school music teacher will need a good command of music theory. Each state decides the unique credentials needed.
Teaching high school music is not unheard of for someone with a four-year music degree. These teachers will need some form of extra higher education to make sure they can fill the role successfully.
In the United States, the average annual pay is $49,684. This works out as $23.89 hourly for a regular high school music teacher. Surprisingly, it seems that high school music teachers are paid less compared to primary and middle school teachers.
The highest paying schools, about 3% of the nationwide percentile, offer a salary up to $127,000 annually. But the majority of high school music teachers receive $37,500 to $58,000 per year.
San Mateo in California made it to the number one spot in having an average salary higher than the rest. Berkeley, Daly City, and Richmond follow which all belong in the same state. Other top 10 cities come from Washington, New York, and Alaska.
There’s also a large group of possible part-timers. 21% of high school music teachers receive $17,500 to $27,500 annual income.
College Music Professors
Last in line for academic institutions are music teachers in colleges and universities. For a more formal approach, it’s best to call them professors.
To teach at this level, not only do you have to be a teacher, you will have to become a professor. This means that after completing a master’s degree, you will most likely have to get a PhD. Today, about 57% of American music professors have a PhD.
Professors will typically excel when they find their specialty and understand their passion. One of the most consistent and profitable ways to make money as a music educator is by teaching in college.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that a music professor’s annual salary is $83,200. However, two career websites which gather data say that a music professor’s annual income is about $59,000.
About 23% of American music professors earn an annual income of $36,000 to $48,000. While about 17% reach up to $60,000 and 14% can go up to $72,000. The highest recorded annual salary is $144,000.
The highest paying states based on the career websites and the BLS are California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Hawaii, New Hampshire, and New York also offer high rates compared to the rest of the states.
A growth of 9% is projected until 2029 for a music professor career. Among the best-paying roles are Senior Professor, Assistant Professor, and Music Director.
Private Music School Teachers and Tutors
Many private schools specialize in music education. They’re often attended by children who come in after school, while older students simply want to take lessons in music.
Many of these lessons at a music school will be one-on-one, but teaching group classes are not unheard of. When working with a music school, there’s a trade-off that will help a teacher acquire students.
Teachers from private music schools can make around $10,000, which is lower than those from public schools. Yet their biggest advantage is that they are hired with an expectation of an assured number of classes. Music schools or academies do their own recruitment or marketing to gain students.
Becoming a private tutor is one of the most popular ways a musician can boost their income. As your own boss, you can select your working hours and customers. As a private tutor, you can teach the type of lessons you enjoy.
Private lessons can be taught in person or online via video calls. You can choose to teach a lesson per day or choose a day to do several lessons. You are in control of your schedule. Of course, a private tutor must do all the marketing and recruiting of students on their own.
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Music Teacher Salary Range for Private Music Teacher and Tutor
In the United States, the average private music teacher salary is $76,389 per year. This works out to be about $36.73 an hour.
For tutors, they charge an average between $20 to $40 an hour. Others, who are considered experts in their field, do not offer services for lower than $50. Some of them reach up to $250 an hour.
The highest earners in the market are currently making $96,500 per year. This will, of course, depend on skill level, location, and years of experience. The most in-demand private lessons include vocal coaching and learning to play instruments.
When it comes to location, New York City takes the top spot with an average salary of $89,155. San Mateo in California comes in at second on the list, offering an average of $87,978 a year. Boston then follows at third with an annual salary of $85,147.
Now that you have an understanding of how much a music teacher makes, you can decide which path would work best for you.
A career in music teaching seems to offer flexibility and alternative streams of income. But don’t forget to consider location, skills, and education competencies when looking for the perfect music teacher job.