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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
