Musicians and singers
SOC Code: 27-2042Also known as:
Accompanist, Bandperson, Baritone, Bass Player, Bassoonist
Median Annual Salary
N/A
+1.1% growth (2024-2034)
19K
Openings/Year
170K
Current Jobs
What Musicians and singers Do
Play one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.
💰 Salary
N/A
Median annual wage (2024)
📈 Job Growth
+1.1%
As fast as average
🎓 Education
No formal educational credential
Typical entry-level requirement
🚀 Annual Openings
19K
Projected average per year
📚 On-the-Job Training
Long-term on-the-job training
Expected training period
Employment Projections (2024-2034)
Current Employment (2024)
169,800
Projected Employment (2034)
171,600
Related Careers
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
$80,190 •
+1.7% growth
Choreographers
$55,600 •
+6.1% growth
Music directors and composers
$63,670 •
-0.3% growth
Top Skills Required
Speaking
Active Listening
Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Social Perceptiveness
Daily Tasks & Responsibilities
- Perform before live audiences in concerts, recitals, educational presentations, and other social gatherings.
- Sing a cappella or with musical accompaniment.
- Interpret or modify music, applying knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm, and voice production to individualize presentations and maintain audience interest.
- Specialize in playing a specific family of instruments or a particular type of music.
- Sing as a soloist or as a member of a vocal group.
- Observe choral leaders or prompters for cues or directions in vocal presentation.
- Memorize musical selections and routines, or sing following printed text, musical notation, or customer instructions.
- Play musical instruments as soloists, or as members or guest artists of musical groups such as orchestras, ensembles, or bands.
- Sight-read musical parts during rehearsals.
- Play from memory or by following scores.
Technology & Tools
📚 Entry-Level Education
No formal educational credential
Most common requirement
🎯 Recommended Education
Bachelor's Degree
O*NET recommended level
Degree Programs for Musicians and singers
These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a musicians and singers:
Music, General
10,690 degrees awarded •
997 colleges offer this program
Music Performance, General
7,193 degrees awarded •
370 colleges offer this program
Musical Theatre
1,157 degrees awarded •
120 colleges offer this program
Music, Other
1,141 degrees awarded •
92 colleges offer this program
Voice and Opera
668 degrees awarded •
79 colleges offer this program
Stringed Instruments
589 degrees awarded •
26 colleges offer this program
Keyboard Instruments
534 degrees awarded •
63 colleges offer this program
Jazz/Jazz Studies
523 degrees awarded •
60 colleges offer this program
Music Pedagogy
385 degrees awarded •
50 colleges offer this program
Woodwind Instruments
158 degrees awarded •
15 colleges offer this program
Best Colleges for Becoming a Musicians and singers
Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become musicians and singers.
| # | College | Location | Related Degrees | Repit Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI | 195 | A+ |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 82 | A+ |
| 3 | New York University | New York, NY | 208 | A |
| 4 | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | 206 | A |
| 5 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | 204 | A |
| 6 | Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | 151 | A |
| 7 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | 148 | A |
| 8 | Boston University | Boston, MA | 123 | A |
| 9 | Yale University | New Haven, CT | 119 | A |
| 10 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | 93 | A |
| 11 | Rice University | Houston, TX | 90 | A |
| 12 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | 85 | A |
| 13 | University of Georgia | Athens, GA | 73 | A |
| 14 | University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | 66 | A |
| 15 | The Juilliard School | New York, NY | 262 | B+ |
| 16 | University of Rochester | Rochester, NY | 235 | B+ |
| 17 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 159 | B+ |
| 18 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL | 148 | B+ |
| 19 | California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | 126 | B+ |
| 20 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL | 113 | B+ |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do musicians and singers make?
The median annual salary for musicians and singers is N/A.
What education do musicians and singers need?
Most musicians and singers positions require a no formal educational credential.
Common degree programs include Music, General, Music Performance, General, Musical Theatre.
Is becoming musicians and singers a good career choice?
Musicians and singers is projected to see +1.1% job growth from 2024 to 2034,
which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 19,400 job openings expected annually,
there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for musicians and singers?
Top colleges for aspiring musicians and singers include
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of California-Los Angeles, New York University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California.
These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to musicians and singers?
Musicians and singers may also be known as: Accompanist, Bandperson, Baritone, Bass Player, Bassoonist, Bell Ringer, Bugler, Bull Fiddle Player, Calliope Player, Cantor, Cellist, Choir Accompanist, Choir Member, Choir Singer, Chorister, Church Musician, Church Organist, Church Pianist, Clarinetist, Collaborative Pianist.
These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.