As a musician by trade, and especially as a music teacher, I have had countless conversations centered around music career opportunities – what can I do with a music degree? What are the entry level music jobs? What if I have no formal training? What even are my options?

I had to answer these questions first for myself, while I was studying, and then I have walked students (and their parents) through this conversation to help them make sense of their desire to be a career musician.

I want to start this post the way I start those conversations: you don’t have to pursue a career in the music industry to study music. In fact, many people study music for the love of it; for the community and catharsis and keeping the brain active through learning. And let me tell you, those are fantastic reasons to study music.

If you do decide that a music career is what you want to pursue, great! I’m glad you’re here. Many students assume that performance is the only way to have a career in music – that’s just plain not true. In reality, there are dozens of career opportunities in the music industry from performance to education to technology to business to production… you get it. That’s why I wanted to get this post in front of you!

No matter your discipline, there are more pathways into music as a living than ever before. In this guide, I’ll lay out some of the most common music career opportunities, what these professionals do, and the education typically needed to pursue each path.

Let’s jump in!

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Music Career Opportunities Quick Reference Guide: Income potential & required degrees

Career	Degree Required?*	Typical Work Environment	Income Potential**
Professional Singer	No	Stage, studio, touring	Variable
Instrumentalist	Sometimes	Orchestra, studio, touring, freelance	Variable
Worship Leader	Sometimes	Churches and religious organizations	Moderate
Musical Theatre Performer	No	Theatres, touring productions	Moderate to High
Music Director	Often Preferred	Schools, churches, performing arts organizations	Moderate to High
Private Music Teacher	No	Private studio, online, music school	Moderate to High
School Music Teacher	Yes	Public or private schools	Moderate
College Music Professor	Usually	Colleges and universities	Moderate to High
Curriculum Writer	Usually Preferred	Educational publishers, freelance, remote	Moderate
Online Music Course Creator	No	Online business, remote	Variable to High
Music Producer	No	Recording studios, home studios	Variable to High
Audio Engineer	No	Studios, live venues, freelance	Moderate to High
Live Sound Engineer	No	Concert venues, touring productions	Moderate to High
Podcast Audio Editor	No	Remote, media companies, freelance	Moderate
Studio Manager	Usually Preferred	Recording studios	Moderate
Artist Manager	No	Remote, agencies, music companies	Variable to High
Talent Agent	Usually Preferred	Talent agencies, entertainment companies	High
Music Marketing Specialist	Usually Preferred	Agencies, labels, remote	Moderate to High
Public Relations Manager	Usually Preferred	Agencies, entertainment companies	Moderate to High
Concert Promoter	No	Event venues, entertainment companies	Variable to High
Music Software Developer	Yes, but not music	Technology companies, remote	High
Music Data Analyst	Yes, but not music	Streaming companies, labels, tech firms	High
Music Licensing Specialist	Usually Preferred, not music	Publishers, labels, licensing agencies	Moderate to High
Content Creator	No	Online, remote	Variable
Music Influencer	No	Online, remote	Variable
Virtual Session Musician	No	Home studio, remote	Variable
Music Entrepreneur	No	Self-employed, business owner	Variable to High

*While a degree may not be required for some fields, demonstrable skill is necessary for hire-ability and success.

**Income potential depends greatly on location, experience, skill, specialization, and whether or it is salaried or hourly.

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Why Explore Career Opportunities in the Music Industry?

I think that the dialogue around this has changed quite a bit in my lifetime, especially with the rise of the internet and technology opening up new avenues for musicians to make a living, but the question of “why” is a big deal – just as it is for choosing many other fields. Typically musicians don’t pursue a career in music because it is known for creating stable income (though that is a misconception for most fields within the music industry), but for their love for music, aptitude, and interest.

The thing I want to make sure to drive home is this: there are far more ways to make a living as a musician than performing on a stage. Frankly, performance is a hard field, which is what deters many from pursuing music as a career. It’s hard to break into, and the lifestyle itself isn’t conducive to anything other than being a performer (having a family, rest, etc)

But look beyond the performance option, and you will find that a music career can offer many benefits, depending on the track you want to take:

• Creative fulfillment
• Flexible work opportunities
• Entrepreneurship potential
• Diverse career paths
• Opportunities to combine artistic and business skills

Here’s one last thing I want you to hear: a career in music is not easy. It’s rewarding, but also challenging (as all rewarding things are). If you are looking for an easy career, music probably isn’t for you. If you’re ready to put in the work, then keep on reading!

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Performance-Based Music Career Opportunities

Singer

What They Do

• Perform live
• Record music
• Work as session vocalists
• Tour with artists and bands

As with most other performing careers, being a professional singer is more of an entrepreneurship than anything else. Professional singers typically have several different streams of income from short-term contracts.

Typical Education

• No degree required
• Private voice lessons highly recommended
• Music theory and sight singing training beneficial
• Need provable skills in singing, music theory, sight reading, ear training, etc.
• Bachelor’s degree in music performance may provide valuable training and networking

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Instrumentalist

What They Do

• Perform solo or with ensembles
• Work as session musicians
• Tour and record professionally

Career performers typically fall under the category of entrepreneurs, meaning they market themselves and hold several different positions at one time (short or long term).

Typical Education

• No degree required for many freelance opportunities
• Advanced private instruction often expected
• Provable skills in your instrument, music theory, sight reading, etc.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree commonly required for orchestra positions

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Worship Leader

What They Do

• Lead congregational worship
• Coordinate worship teams
• Select music and arrange services

Depending on the church and their needs, as well as time commitment and pay, this can be a career or it can be a smaller part of a larger performance career.

Typical Education

• No degree required at many churches
• Training in music, leadership, and theology is beneficial; demonstrable skills necessary.
• Worship ministry or music degree preferred by some churches

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Musical Theater Performer

What They Do

• Perform in stage productions
• Participate in touring shows
• Work in regional and professional theatre

Late rehearsals and busy schedules are typical of a Musical Theater Performer, and gigs last however long the show runs.

Typical Education

• No degree required
• Formal training in voice, acting, and dance strongly recommended; demonstrable skills necessary.
• Bachelor’s degree in musical theatre can improve audition preparation

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Music Director

What They Do

• Lead ensembles and productions
• Conduct choirs, orchestras, or theatre productions
• Oversee musical performances

A music director can include many different things, but it always includes telling performers what to do. That could include conducting, programming, teaching, or anything else required to make a musical production (of any kind) happen.

Typical Education

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in music
• Conducting and leadership training important
• Professional experience often weighs heavily in hiring & pay decisions

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Music Education Careers

Private Music Teacher

What They Do

• Teach private lessons
• Lead group classes
• Develop customized learning plans

There are two different ways to be a private music teacher: You can run your own business (what I did!), which means doing all of the business stuff as well (marketing, invoicing, signing students, taxes, etc. All of these extras are why I created C&S Music!), or you can teach at an already-established music school. There are pros and cons to each, and you need to decide which works best for you.

Something to consider: Many private music teachers hit maximum capacity for both student load and income. If you love the business side of being a private music teacher, you could run your own private lesson studio – employ teachers and do mostly the business work.

Typical Education

• No degree legally required in most locations
• Strong musical proficiency is essential
• Music education or performance degree can increase credibility
• Teaching certifications may be beneficial
• For solo-teachers: marketing & business education is very helpful.

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School Music Teacher

What They Do

• Teach classroom music
• Direct band, orchestra, or choir programs
• Develop music curriculum

The stability in school jobs is a huge step up from that of entrepreneurial jobs (freelance performers or teachers), but the education requirement is also much higher for even consideration of being hired. But your schedule is set for you, you get summers to either rest or pursue other interests (or gigs), and they typically offer benefits packages – a huge plus compared to self-employed tracks.

Typical Education

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in music education
• State teaching credential or certification required for public schools
• Ongoing professional development often required

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College Music Professor

What They Do

• Teach music courses
• Conduct research
• Mentor college students

The more education you pursue, and the more specialized you become, the more stability you will find. The collegiate schedule also tends to be a little bit more open than that for high schoolers, and you will be working with students at a higher level.

Typical Education

• Master’s degree minimum for some institutions
• Doctorate often required for tenure-track positions
• Significant professional experience may substitute in specialized areas

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Curriculum Writer

What They Do

• Develop music education resources
• Write lesson plans and instructional materials
• Create educational products

Here’s something really great – solid curriculum writer jobs are available at fully-established companies equipped for salaried positions & benefits. They also will typically offer internships as entry-level positions for people in school, which are a great opportunity to get your foot in the door and make some connections (the most valuable asset in the music industry).

Typical Education

• Bachelor’s degree in music education commonly preferred
• Teaching experience often more important than advanced degrees
• Curriculum design training can be helpful

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Independent Online Music Educator

What They Do

• Create digital music courses
• Develop membership programs
• Produce educational video content

With the rise of the internet and especially online education post-pandemic, taking your experience of teaching to a wider audience online can be a good move. There is good potential for making a living educating people online (hear me when I say this) if you have the skills.

Being an online music educator does fall under the self-employment category, which means doing it all yourself (or hiring out if you have the money to do so), paying all taxes (check out this post on self-employment taxes if you’re curious), and covering your own benefits like healthcare and retirement.

Typical Education

• No degree required
• Subject matter expertise is critical. Please, please, please, don’t contribute to the vast array of music “experts” on the internet teaching wrong information.
• Marketing and instructional design knowledge beneficial

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Music Production and Recording Careers

Music Producer

What They Do

• Guide recording projects
• Shape artistic direction
• Manage studio sessions

Working as a fixture in a studio can be a very stable, very rewarding job. They often offer internships and on-the-job training as well.

Typical Education

• No degree required
• Audio production training highly valuable
• Music production or audio engineering degree can accelerate learning

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Audio Engineer

What They Do

• Record music
• Mix recordings
• Master final tracks

Again, studio work is a great starting point if you are open to interning and learning as you go. Make those connections and learn valuable skills that will carry you through a very stable career.

Typical Education

• Certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree common
• Industry experience and portfolio often outweigh formal education

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Live Sound Engineer

What They Do

• Operate sound systems for concerts and events
• Manage audio during performances
• Troubleshoot technical issues

As with most audio engineering jobs, practical experience is worth its weight in gold. Spend the time learning the skill as an intern or shadow, and you can either travel with a specific band, work at a specific venue, or do some combination of the two and earn a solid living.

Typical Education

• Technical training programs helpful
• Certifications available but not usually required
• Hands-on experience highly valued

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Podcast Audio Editor

What They Do

• Edit spoken-word audio
• Improve sound quality
• Produce finished podcast episodes

A little bit of a side-step, but the skills learned as an audio engineer can be applied to spoken audio as well. Music engineers develop a great ear for details, which can really give them a leg up on potential competition.

Typical Education

• No degree required
• Audio editing software proficiency essential
• Production courses can provide useful training

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Studio Manager

What They Do

• Oversee studio operations
• Coordinate scheduling
• Manage client relationships

Business experience/education is the name of the game here, and learning how to work with musicians is essential. This is a great career that can start with a well-worked internship.

Typical Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business or music business often preferred
• Industry experience frequently required

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Music Business Career Opportunities

Artist Manager

What They Do

• Guide artists’ careers
• Coordinate projects
• Build industry relationships

Networking is huge in the music industry, and an artist manager knows how to network and use those connections for their clients. Artist managers can work as part of an already-established company, or they can build their own brand and land their own clients.

Typical Education

• No degree required
• Music business, marketing, or communications degree helpful
• Industry relationships often matter most

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Talent Agent

What They Do

• Book performances
• Negotiate contracts
• Connect artists with opportunities

Talent agents are intermediaries between performers and their potential employers. They need to speak the language of the industry (not necessarily just music), be able to honestly evaluate their clients strengths, and sell them.

Typical Education

• Bachelor’s degree often preferred
• Sales, marketing, or business background valuable

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Music Marketing Specialist

What They Do

• Promote artists and releases
• Manage digital marketing campaigns
• Grow audience engagement

Music Marketing specialists can establish themselves in a couple of ways: a media company that includes musician clients, a venue that houses musical performances, or for an artist/band that wants to outsource their marketing.

Typical Education

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or music business often preferred
• Digital marketing certifications can be beneficial

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Concert Promoter

What They Do

• Organize live events
• Market concerts
• Coordinate venues and artists

While I wouldn’t typically consider Concert Promoter to be a very viable career, that’s not a hard and fast rule. Someone with the right skills set could build their own brand doing exclusively concert promotion and make a good living. It is, however, a good way to supplement your income or start making some music industry connections.

Typical Education

• No degree required
• Event management or business education can be advantageous

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Music Technology Careers

Music Software Developer

What They Do

• Build music applications
• Develop recording software
• Create educational technology tools

If you have a coding skillset, there are many different career paths for you within the music industry – recording software, editing software, educational software, music business software, etc are always being not only maintained, but updated.

Typical Education

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or software engineering common
• Strong coding skills required

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Sound Designer

What They Do

• Create audio for film, television, and video games
• Design sound effects and audio environments

Typical Education

• Audio production degree helpful
• Portfolio often more important than formal education

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Music Data Analyst

What They Do

• Analyze trends
• Study audience behavior
• Help companies make data-driven decisions

This is a great example of a music-centric career that would require a degree in a different field. Applying other knowledge to the music industry is a great way to work in the music industry without having to get a degree in music.

Typical Education

• Bachelor’s degree in data analytics, statistics, business, or related field typically required

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Music Licensing Specialist

What They Do

• Manage copyrights and licenses
• Secure music placements
• Handle royalty agreements

Another great example of using a different degree in the music industry – no music degree required.

Typical Education

• Bachelor’s degree in music business, law, or business commonly preferred

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Emerging Career Opportunities in the Music Industry

Content Creator

What They Do

• Create educational or entertainment content
• Produce videos, blogs, and podcasts
• Build an online audience

“Content Creator” is such a broad term that I think you can even turn your “fandom” into a career if you market it right. Whether you just want to talk about your favorite artists or share your musical talents, this one is wide open.

Typical Education

• No degree required
• Strong communication and content production skills essential

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Music Influencer

What They Do

• Create music-related social media content
• Review music products and services
• Build engaged communities

Typical Education

• No degree required
• Marketing and social media skills highly beneficial

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Virtual Session Musician

What They Do

• Record tracks remotely
• Collaborate with artists worldwide
• Deliver professional recordings from a home studio

Thanks to the pandemic, collaborating with other musicians remotely has become relatively easy (just requires a decent recording setup). Keep in mind, though, that the same level of musicianship is expected as in-studio musicians.

Typical Education

• No degree required
• Strong musicianship and recording skills necessary

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Music Entrepreneur

What They Do

• Build businesses around music products and services
• Create educational resources
• Run studios, teaching businesses, or online brands

Many of the careers above can fall under the umbrella of “entrepreneur.” It’s not easy work, and there is a lot more business knowledge required than most people expect, but it is rewarding and can be flexible if you set yourself up correctly.

Typical Education

• No degree required
• Business, marketing, and financial knowledge highly valuable

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Skills Needed for Success in Music Careers

Of course, each career will require a different skillset, but I will say that each and every one requires a few critical skills:

• Networking
  Your interpersonal skills will take you farther in the music industry than most others will. It is all about who you know (and who can open doors for you)
• Work
  Hard work will serve you better than any talent. I saw many people step away from pursuing a career in music simply because they didn’t want (or didn’t know how) to put in the work.
• Self-Marketing
  Similar to networking, you need to be able to sell yourself to other people. It’s a good skill for life in general, but you need to learn to put yourself out there if you want career opportunities in the music industry.

Beyond these 3, there are others that will serve you well, depending on what track you want to pursue:

Musical Skills

• Performance skills
• Music theory knowledge
• Ear training
• Sight singing

Business Skills

• Communication
• Marketing
• Leadership
• Project management

Technology Skills

• Recording software
• Video creation
• Digital marketing
• Online collaboration tools

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How Students Can Prepare for Music Career Opportunities

• Build strong musicianship fundamentals
• Learn music theory and sight singing
• Participate in ensembles and performances
• Develop teaching and leadership experience
• Explore internships and volunteer opportunities
• Learn basic recording and technology skills
• Build a portfolio of work
• Network with professionals in the field

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Do You Need a Degree to Work in the Music Industry?

As I’m sure you noticed, many of these careers do not require a degree in anything in particular, or at all. Some require some level of education (especially teaching in public sectors), and some require education in other skills, like business or marketing.

However – and this is so important – that doesn’t mean that they don’t require work.

The work required for many music careers is still work, even if it doesn’t necessarily look like a college education. It looks like learning, honing skills, networking, making mistakes and learning from them. All of these things you can do outside of a collegiate setting, but it’s easier if you do have a community of music students around you.

In the same vein, a degree in music doesn’t necessarily mean that you can just get any job in the music industry that you want – you need to put in the work learning, honing skills, and networking while studying music if you want to hold your own in the industry.

In short, you don’t have to get a degree to pursue a career in music, but there are skills that are non-negotiable and can be learned in college or out.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Music Career Opportunities

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There are far more career opportunities in the music industry than most people realize.

In fact, this list isn’t even fully comprehensive – but it’s a good start. No matter where your interest or forte lies, there is something for you in the music industry if you are willing to put in the work. If you have a questions or want to chat about life in the music industry, shoot me an email or leave a comment!