Composers and Arrangers

Composers create much of the music heard every day on radio and television, in theaters and concert halls, in the movie industry, on recordings and in advertising, on the Internet, and through any other medium of musical presentation. Composers write symphonies, concertos, and operas; scores for theater, television, and cinema; and music for musical theater, recording artists, and commercial advertising. They may combine elements of classical music with elements of popular musical styles such as rock, jazz, reggae, folk, and others. Arrangers take composers’ musical compositions and transcribe them for other instruments or voices; work them into scores for film, theater, or television; or adapt them to styles that are different from the one in which the music was written. Approximately 64,700 composers and music directors are employed in the United States; many are self-employed or work on a freelance basis.

Salary Range

Below $25,000 to $100,000+

Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma

Certification/License

None

Outlook

Little Change or More Slowly than the Average

Personality Traits

Artistic

Creative

Outgoing

Career Ladder

Composer/Arranger for High-Profile Projects

Composer/Arranger

Musician