Career Paths & Job Market
Please see the Bureau of Labor Statistics for detailed information about job trends and median expected salaries for musicians.
Career Links:
- Songwriters Resource NetworkNational Association for Music Education
- Applause
- Berklee College of Music—Careers in Music
- American Composer Forum
- Artslynx-International
- Audio Engineering Society
- International Computer Music Association
- Music Therapy Information
Career Paths
Music Education
Early, Middle, and High School Music Educator; Band, Chorus and Orchestra Teacher; College Music Educator; University Music School Administrator; Studio Teacher
Musical Performer
Instrumental: Armed Forces, Orchestra, Small Ensemble, Popular Music, or Radio/Film/TV
Vocal: Choral, Opera, Musicals, Popular Music, Radio/Film/TV Performer
Music for Worship
Organist, Choral Director, Cantor
Music Business
Sales, Marketing, Retail, A&R, Music License Administrator, Program Director
Musical Instruments
Music Maker, Technician or Piano Tuner
Conducting
Choral, Orchestra, Opera, Institutional or Small Ensemble Director
Composition
Composer, Song Writer, Arranger
Music Therapy
(can practice in various settings)
Hospitals, Special Education Facility, Clinic for Disabled Children, Nursing Home, Mental Health Facility, Correctional Facility, Private Practice, or Music Psychologist
Music Technology
Sound Engineer, Sound Designer, Recording Engineer, Recording Studio Executive, Computer Music Software Developer, Film Sound Crew, Music Producer, Post Production Engineer
Music Librarian
College, Public Library, Orchestra Library
Music Publishing
Music Editor, Music Typesetter, Sales Representative, Licensing Administrator, Publisher
Communications
Music Book Publisher, Music Book Writer, Music Periodical Publisher, Periodical Article Writer, Music Reporter (Critic), Public Relations Specialist
Transferring to a Four-Year College
The following are Massachusetts state colleges that offer a four-year music degree:
- Boston College
- Bridgewater State College
- Salem State College
- UMass Boston
- UMass Dartmouth
- UMass Lowell
The following are Massachusetts private colleges that offer a four-year music degree:





