The average salary for a music teacher in the United States is around $78,620 per year.
Avg Salary
Music teachers earn an average yearly salary of $78,620.
Wages typically start from $47,570 and go up to $163,350.
38% above national average Updated in 2025
Vanderbilt University
Applied Behavior Analysis Online M.Ed.
Music teacher earnings by seniority
Top-level music teacher earnings begin at:
$78.53 per hour
$163,350 per year
Senior-level music teacher earnings begin at:
$49.93 per hour
$103,850 per year
Mid-level music teacher earnings begin at:
$37.80 per hour
$78,620 per year
Junior-level music teacher earnings begin at:
$29.62 per hour
$61,620 per year
Starting level music teacher earnings begin at:
$22.87 per hour
$47,570 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Music teacher salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $99,410 |
| New York | $98,850 |
| Vermont | $97,980 |
| Rhode Island | $97,580 |
| District of Columbia | $96,900 |
| Massachusetts | $85,820 |
| Maryland | $85,590 |
| Michigan | $82,990 |
| New Jersey | $80,100 |
| Georgia | $79,870 |
| Maine | $79,860 |
| New Hampshire | $79,090 |
| Louisiana | $78,710 |
| Connecticut | $78,600 |
| Montana | $78,420 |
| Ohio | $78,050 |
| Washington | $77,950 |
| Minnesota | $77,760 |
| Iowa | $77,740 |
| Texas | $77,560 |
| Wisconsin | $77,560 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,280 |
| Oregon | $76,770 |
| New Mexico | $76,240 |
| Indiana | $76,050 |
| Missouri | $75,960 |
| Nebraska | $75,200 |
| Virginia | $74,870 |
| North Carolina | $73,800 |
| West Virginia | $73,280 |
| Idaho | $72,300 |
| Arizona | $72,060 |
| Tennessee | $72,030 |
| Colorado | $70,060 |
| North Dakota | $67,190 |
| Utah | $66,220 |
| Kentucky | $64,440 |
| Florida | $63,820 |
| Alabama | $63,540 |
| South Dakota | $63,380 |
| Illinois | $62,960 |
| South Carolina | $62,420 |
| Oklahoma | $62,200 |
| Kansas | $61,260 |
| Arkansas | $60,650 |
| Mississippi | $60,580 |
| Wyoming | $59,190 |
| Nevada | $52,870 |
| Hawaii | $49,330 |
| Alaska | $38,700 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,110 |
| Delaware | $103,320 |
How do music teacher salaries compare to similar careers?
Music teachers earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than musicians but more than audio engineers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Musician salary | $99K |
| School principal salary | $106K |
| Casting director salary | $90K |
| Distance learning coordinator salary | $95K |
| School psychologist salary | $96K |
| Music teacher salary | $79K |
| Conductor salary | $74K |
| Composer salary | $74K |
| Physical education teacher salary | $77K |
| Audio engineer salary | $73K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)