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What are music majors?

Music programs focus on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts. As a music major, your coursework might include instruction in music, dance and other performing arts media. Many institutions offer different tracks within a music major, often distinguishing performance-based and non-performance-based programs from each other.

How much do music majors make?

Music graduates typically make between $31,000 and $85,000 per year. The national average of reported salaries for music degrees is $55,000.
Music majorsAverage salarySalary
General music$55,000
ConductingNo data
Music managementNo data
Music performanceNo data
Music technologyNo data
Music theory and compositionNo data
Musical instrumentsNo data
Voice and operaNo data

Popular music majors by degrees awarded

On average, around 10,700 students obtain a bachelor's degree or associate degree in all music fields each year. In 2021, the most popular major within music was music performance with 4,124 students obtaining a bachelor's degree and 244 students obtaining an associate degree. The least popular major was conducting with fewer than 5 students obtaining a bachelor's degree and fewer than 5 students obtaining an associate degree. Overall, music is a relatively uncommon area of study.