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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Pull up a cost-of-living calculator alongside this data — that's where the real insight lives. The national median salary for Musicians in 2026 is $51,211, with entry-level positions averaging $36,872 and senior roles reaching $72,720. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $93,280, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Arts & Media within the broader Creative & Media industry, Musicians typically hold No formal requirement. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is performance/studio. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$56,760 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Musician in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $93,280 — $56,760 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($36,520). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Musicians in 2026: $36,872 at entry (P10), $51,211 at midpoint, and $72,720 at the senior end (P90). The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The $35,848 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $29,156 below the national median household income of $80,367.
But raw salary is only half the story. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $87,120 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $36,813. That $50,307 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
A Musician in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $93,280 — $56,760 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($36,520). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $36,872 | $51,211 | $72,720 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £19,161 | £26,612 | £37,789 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$27,647 | CA$38,399 | CA$54,526 |
| Australia | 13 | A$30,691 | A$42,626 | A$60,529 |
| Sweden | 24 | 195,743 kr | 271,866 kr | 386,049 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $44,503 | $61,809 | $87,769 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $43,006 | $59,730 | $84,817 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $42,768 | $59,400 | $84,348 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $39,600 | $55,000 | $78,100 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $39,125 | $54,340 | $77,163 |
| Washington | 8 | $38,372 | $53,295 | $75,679 |
| New York | 5 | $36,115 | $50,160 | $71,227 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $36,115 | $50,160 | $71,227 |
| Florida | 22 | $35,842 | $49,780 | $70,688 |
| Colorado | 11 | $35,222 | $48,920 | $69,466 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $35,165 | $48,840 | $69,353 |
| Nevada | 5 | $35,101 | $48,752 | $69,228 |
| Arizona | 12 | $34,927 | $48,510 | $68,884 |
| Oregon | 5 | $34,848 | $48,400 | $68,728 |
| Idaho | 3 | $34,742 | $48,253 | $68,520 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $34,468 | $47,872 | $67,978 |
| Utah | 4 | $34,373 | $47,740 | $67,791 |
| Virginia | 7 | $33,807 | $46,954 | $66,675 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $33,370 | $46,347 | $65,812 |
| Alaska | 1 | $33,264 | $46,200 | $65,604 |
| Illinois | 5 | $32,884 | $45,672 | $64,854 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $32,067 | $44,538 | $63,244 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $31,680 | $44,000 | $62,480 |
| Montana | 1 | $31,680 | $44,000 | $62,480 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $31,574 | $43,853 | $62,272 |
| Texas | 40 | $31,419 | $43,637 | $61,965 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $31,364 | $43,560 | $61,856 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $31,205 | $43,340 | $61,543 |
| Georgia | 6 | $31,099 | $43,193 | $61,335 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $31,046 | $43,120 | $61,230 |
| Kansas | 4 | $30,888 | $42,900 | $60,918 |
| Michigan | 6 | $30,782 | $42,753 | $60,710 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $30,413 | $42,240 | $59,981 |
| Maryland | 1 | $30,413 | $42,240 | $59,981 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $30,096 | $41,800 | $59,356 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $30,096 | $41,800 | $59,356 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $29,304 | $40,700 | $57,794 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $29,146 | $40,480 | $57,482 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $28,750 | $39,930 | $56,701 |
| Missouri | 4 | $28,750 | $39,930 | $56,701 |
| Alabama | 5 | $28,639 | $39,776 | $56,482 |
| Indiana | 3 | $28,195 | $39,160 | $55,607 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $28,195 | $39,160 | $55,607 |
| Iowa | 2 | $27,878 | $38,720 | $54,982 |
| Ohio | 6 | $27,826 | $38,647 | $54,878 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $26,611 | $36,960 | $52,483 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Musician median of $61,809 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($59,730) and Hawaii ($59,400). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $36,960 and $38,720. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($93,280 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $44,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $93,280 | 212 | $44,000 | $58,163 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $87,120 | 198 | $44,000 | $54,649 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $80,960 | 184 | $44,000 | $51,135 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $79,640 | 181 | $44,000 | $50,382 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $78,320 | 178 | $44,000 | $49,629 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $77,880 | 177 | $44,000 | $49,378 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $77,880 | 177 | $44,000 | $49,378 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $76,120 | 173 | $44,000 | $48,373 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $76,120 | 173 | $44,000 | $48,373 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $74,360 | 169 | $44,000 | $47,369 |
From a career planning perspective, Musician offers a $35,848 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires No formal requirement. Day-to-day, expect performance/studio work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Musicians is $51,211 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $36,872, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $72,720.
The highest-paying city for Musicians is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $93,280. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($93,280), Santa Clara ($87,120), Irvine ($80,960). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Musician salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $36,520. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Musicians (10th percentile) average $36,872 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $67,162. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Musicians average $72,720 nationally — $35,848 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Musicians can earn up to $132,458.
The top-paying states for Musicians are California ($61,809 median), Massachusetts ($59,730 median), Hawaii ($59,400 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Musician involves No formal requirement. The field is in the Creative & Media sector (Arts & Media), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically performance/studio.
With a national median of $51,211 and representation across 288 metro areas, Musician offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $35,848 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.