Music Teachers Jobs

A lot of people are musically inclined, and often, they want to put their skills to good and positive use. That’s one of the reasons why many musicians are seeking music teachers jobs.
 
Some people go for music teachers jobs to share their passion for music, and of course, to earn a living. There are plenty of jobs and opportunities for music teachers online too!
 
Although professional musicians sometimes work as music teachers, not all of them are effective at teaching.
young student listening to his cello instructor

The Pay and Requisites of a Music Teacher

When it comes to the music teacher salary, these vary by state. Incomes also vary depending on the teacher’s teaching preference. They can either open their own music teaching business or teach students in schools.
 
When becoming a music teacher, you don’t need a degree in music, especially if you are offering private lessons. Having a musical background as a performer will be a great asset too.
 
The most important requirements are having passion and love for music. Having the enthusiasm to share this knowledge with others is also a key attribute of a great music teacher.

Want to learn how you can turn your musical talent into a legit and profitable business through teaching?

*No degree required

A music instructor guiding her beginner student in their private piano lessons
keyboard instructor and her student having a lesson

Qualities of a Music Teacher

Music teachers jobs can have different qualifications expected for them, but most schools require a bachelor’s degree. However, your knowledge alone is not enough to qualify as a music teacher.
 
Students look for instructors who are not only skilled. They also look for someone who has the following good qualities.
young woman sitting at the piano

Music Teachers Jobs: Is Being a Music Teacher a Good Career?

Professional teachers not only teach their students, they also learn from them. The same principle goes for music teachers. They can learn from their very own students. But is a music teacher salary enough and would it make a good career?
 
Part of professional development in any music teachers job is working with others. If you wish to work alone, then offering private lessons might be your preferred way of teaching. Private tutors offer schedule flexibility and they get to choose which students they teach.
 
Music teacher jobs online are not as bad as many think. Technology today offers a great opportunity to expand on the physical area you teach in. The internet means you can teach worldwide and not be limited to your city or state.

Sometimes, being a private music teacher offers a better salary. Whether you’re teaching online or in-person, private teaching rates can be higher.

Being a music teacher doesn’t limit you to teaching elementary or high school students. Teaching music can include tutoring, creating videos, training performers for musical plays, and a lot more. With the right credentials, you can also teach in universities, colleges, or music schools.

Some music teachers do a combination of those. There are a few who are employed under a school or university but still direct or take part in music plays. There are some music teachers online who offer video lessons on different platforms too.

These are just some of the advantages of being a music teacher which demonstrate that teaching music can be a good career.

Should You Look for a Music Teaching Job or Teach Music Privately?

In the United States, there are currently about 122,500 music teachers. From today until 2026, it’s estimated that there will be a rise of 12% in music teachers jobs. That means, about 18,000 music teachers are needed over the next few years.
 
Based on the National Association for Music Education, the US has enough teachers to meet the average demand for music teachers. However, this only reflects the music lessons that are recorded or surveyed. Many private tutors or students won’t be included in these audits.
 
You could be a good fit for a music teacher job if you have an aptitude for music and a desire to teach beginners. Considering many factors, music teachers in schools earn the same as other educators. The music teacher salary can be an opportunity to have a stable income. But by providing private lessons, music teachers can supplement their earning potential.
 
Music teachers can operate both in schools and through private music lessons, and they serve students from preschool through to college. They teach the theory of music, music history, as well as how to play instruments. Additionally, music teachers lead choirs, orchestras, and bands.
 
If you’re currently deciding whether to teach in school or privately, consider the qualities stated above. Other things you should consider include the type of students and at what levels you are willing to teach.
 
Being employed by a school also means teaching a class full of students at the one time. If you don’t have the confidence and energy for a big group, you can consider teaching privately.
 
Private classes often involve one or two students. Though some private classes may ask for a small group, you can choose whether you want to do that or not. If you think teaching one-on-one is your way, then only offer those lessons.
 
Your skill and knowledge, along with your teaching preferences will point you towards teaching in a school or teaching privately.

Are you a talented musician looking for reliable income?

Click here to learn how you can start your own music teaching business

*No degree required

How Do Private Music Instructors Make Money?

Forty-six percent of music teachers in the U.S. claim that their wages are enough to cover the cost of living. Music teachers work the same way as other professions in the United States.
 
A survey from 2014 shows that people are willing to pay for private music lessons for up to $50. This is around 15% higher than they are willing to pay for in-studio lessons. But take note that the average music teacher’s salary is $28.24 per hour.
 
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a piano teacher is $65,106 a year. This averages out to be around $31.30 an hour. This is equal to $1,252 per week or $5,426 per month.
 
Meanwhile, the average annual salary for violin teachers in the United States is $55,589 a year. This is equal to $1,069 per week or $4,632 a month.
 
If you look at it, a music teacher salary isn’t bad at all. How you decide to work dictates your general income.

Private Academies

For those who work as private tutors under private academies, there are additional benefits too. Someone who has been teaching for less than a year receives an estimated gross salary of $37,896. This includes tips, incentives, and overtime pay.
 
An early career music teacher with 1-4 years of experience receives a yearly gross salary of $40,515. A mid-career music teacher with 5-9 years of experience receives an annual gross salary of $43,203. Those with 10-19 years of experience receive $49,666.
 
For anyone beyond 19 years of experience, they receive an average gross salary of $53,104. Music teachers may raise their earnings by teaching community music lessons or seminars, which pay better than solo sessions.
 
It’s also worth remembering that you might work towards getting an advanced degree in music or education. Having an advanced degree may sometimes offer better rates than those who don’t have any formal qualifications.
saxophone instructor with her young boy student

Private Teacher or Tutor

ZipRecruiter states that a private music teacher earns about $37 hourly. This means they can make $76,389 every year.
 
One advantage of being a private music teacher is that you decide your hourly rates. Also, you can decide your own schedule and choose when you have availability.
 
Should you wish to charge higher rates based on your skills, you can do so. The higher your hourly rate for lessons, the fewer hours you would need to meet your monthly expenses.
 
The consistency of your work as a music teacher is of vital importance. If you can provide advanced teaching through a series of lessons, students will be prepared to pay more.
 
Students would pay $70-$120 an hour to study with a respectable private lesson teacher. This can vary though depending on what the competition is like in your state.
 
If you have the skills to attract students who are willing to pay $100 an hour, that’s great. But remember that you have to invest your time to gain their trust and attention before they become your students.
 
Advertising and presenting your skills is an added job for a private tutor. You cannot expect that students would come knocking at your door asking for music lessons from you.

Private Academies vs Private Tutoring

In private academies, the marketing and advertising work is carried out by the management, not the music teacher. This is another advantage for those who are working for music academies.
 
Though belonging to a network may offer lower rates, some academies can offer you fixed numbers of students in a week. Sometimes they can guarantee several classes in a month, too. Finding the right partners in the business may be challenging but could be worth it for regular pay.
 
If you believe you have the skills to market and advertise your private music classes, then go for it. Once you have a student who is progressing with you and happy to continue their lessons, word of mouth may help to attract more students.
 
Teaching music isn’t just about teaching what you know. It involves working together with your students and helping them be independent. If you’re ready to let your student go, then that’s a huge achievement for a music teacher.

Music Teachers Jobs: Online Teaching

Another opportunity for private music instructors is online teaching. With today’s technology, teaching online is equal to doing face-to-face private lessons. You can offer the same rate online or offer packages for a block of classes.
 
Besides one-on-one online classes, there are various platforms that offer video lessons today. If you think you’re up to this kind of exposure, you may make enough money with just one video.
 
Video classes are pre-recorded and can charge as pay-per-view. Depending on which platform you’re on, you can name the right price for each of your lessons. The challenge with video classes is you have to be experienced for the hosting platforms to consider you.

Is It Hard to Get a Job as a Music Teacher?

happy violin student playing her violin next to her instructor
Modern technology offers many opportunities beyond teaching inside the classroom. Music teachers online are now in demand since education is no longer restricted to a school classroom.
 
The requirements may be the same and the hourly rates won’t change, but online classes offer opportunities beyond your state or city. You can teach online with students from different states or even different countries.
 
Though those who have earned a bachelor’s degree in music education are often preferred for employment. Those wishing to teach college level are usually expected to have a master’s degree or a Ph.D. But don’t forget that experience is also an important factor for music teacher jobs.
 
Music teachers in public schools and colleges are more at risk of facing budget cuts. However, music teachers can give private lessons while teaching in public schools.
 
Being able to teach in school and do private lessons is a win-win situation. If there are sudden changes in the school, the private lessons could help a music teacher survive. Should there be less private lessons, the regular salary from working in a school could provide enough income.
 
The fees and the number of students you could have are flexible for private tutoring. This applies to music teachers online as well.
 
Knowing this, music teachers can make up for periodic downturns and any uncertainty of employability. Having this many opportunities within your chosen career is good in many ways.

Private Lessons

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Piano vs Violin, The Two Most Common Music Lessons

Beginners may find it challenging to choose their first musical instrument to begin their learning journey. When it comes to the most popular options, these are the piano and the violin. Both of these instruments are impressive in their own ways.
 
These instruments have a way to sway the audience’s hearts and put them in an emotional trance. Between these two instruments, the piano is more popular, especially when starting music.
 
When choosing between the piano and the violin, clients should consider some key factors. One of these is the instrument’s size and mobility. Although the violin is smaller and lighter, the piano has a lighter, modern version, which is of course the keyboard.
 
Another factor they consider is the price. Pianos are more expensive, ranging from $3000-$5000. Higher quality uprights could cost up to $10,000.
 
A grand piano is a logical option for the more experienced musician. However, it will cost around $15,000 for a low-end model. Meanwhile, keyboards range from $200-$1000.
 
The violin, on the other hand, is developed at various levels of experience. Student violins can have minimal features while professional models have it all.
 
The prices for a violin can range from $100-$100,000. However, a beginner needs something suitable for their current abilities. On average, you can budget between $400-$2,000 for a violin.
violin on piano keys

In general, music teachers jobs are available everywhere, which shows it’s a great career opportunity. Whether you’re teaching music in school, in private, or doing video classes, it will be a fun experience. You’re not only teaching, but you’re also learning and enjoying.

If you’re teaching someone how to play and instrument, then you must love your chosen instrument.  If you are teaching music history or assembling a choir, then it must be your passion.

Whatever you do, teaching music isn’t just educating. It is also a form of art.