Jobs Similar to Music Directors and Composers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to music directors and composers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Talent Directors, Art Directors and Choreographers.
Music Directors and Composers: $73,710 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Music Directors and Composers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Talent DirectorsSame group | 79% | $90,360Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Art Directors | 79% | $114,850+56% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | ChoreographersSame group | 78% | $55,310−25% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 77% | $76,910Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Producers and DirectorsSame group | 75% | $90,360+23% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Graphic Designers | 75% | $62,960−15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Writers and Authors | 73% | $76,910+4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Public Relations Specialists | 73% | $74,750+1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Advertising and Promotions Managers | 72% | $133,660+81% | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | 72% | $82,890+12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | 70% | $97,150+32% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 70% | $78,620+7% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Editors | 70% | $77,920+6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Fashion Designers | 69% | $80,960+10% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Film and Video Editors | 69% | $75,420+2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Set and Exhibit Designers | 69% | $75,240+2% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Public Relations Managers | 68% | $146,910+99% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Media Programming DirectorsSame group | 68% | $90,360Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Special Effects Artists and Animators | 68% | $102,030+38% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Clergy | 68% | $60,810−18% | Graduate degree |
- 1Talent Directors
79% similar · $90,360 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Art Directors
79% similar · $114,850 (+56%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Choreographers
78% similar · $55,310 (−25%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
77% similar · $76,910 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Producers and Directors
75% similar · $90,360 (+23%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Graphic Designers
75% similar · $62,960 (−15%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Writers and Authors
73% similar · $76,910 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Public Relations Specialists
73% similar · $74,750 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Advertising and Promotions Managers
72% similar · $133,660 (+81%) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
72% similar · $82,890 (+12%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
70% similar · $97,150 (+32%) · Training or associate
- 12Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
70% similar · $78,620 (+7%) · Graduate degree
- 13Editors
70% similar · $77,920 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Fashion Designers
69% similar · $80,960 (+10%) · Training or associate
- 15Film and Video Editors
69% similar · $75,420 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Set and Exhibit Designers
69% similar · $75,240 (+2%) · Graduate degree
- 17Public Relations Managers
68% similar · $146,910 (+99%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Media Programming Directors
68% similar · $90,360 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Special Effects Artists and Animators
68% similar · $102,030 (+38%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Clergy
68% similar · $60,810 (−18%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than music directors and composers.
- Public Relations Managers68% similar · $146,910 (+99%)
- Advertising and Promotions Managers72% similar · $133,660 (+81%)
- Art Directors79% similar · $114,850 (+56%)
- Special Effects Artists and Animators68% similar · $102,030 (+38%)
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance70% similar · $97,150 (+32%)
- Producers and Directors75% similar · $90,360 (+23%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for music directors and composers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where music directors and composers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers (84)
- Graphic Designers (75)
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (74)
- Public Relations Specialists (73)
- Writers and Authors (73)
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (71)
- Editors (70)
- Film and Video Editors (69)
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys (67)
- Interior Designers (66)
Questions about jobs like music directors and composers
What jobs are most similar to music directors and composers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Talent Directors (79% similar), Art Directors (79% similar), Choreographers (78% similar), Poets (Lyricists and Creative Writers) (77% similar) and Producers and Directors (75% similar).
Which jobs like music directors and composers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Public Relations Managers ($146,910, +99%; usually a bachelor's degree), Advertising and Promotions Managers ($133,660, +81%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Art Directors ($114,850, +56%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with music directors and composers ($73,710). Without more preparation than music directors and composers usually need: Public Relations Managers, Advertising and Promotions Managers and Art Directors.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.