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Freelance Musician Jobs in Decatur, GA (NOW HIRING)

... junior editors, freelancers and external partners, ensuring consistency and excellence in ... Strong sense of visual storytelling, pacing, composition and music and sound integration. Deep ...

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Freelance Musician information

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$9

$22

$67

How much do freelance musician jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance musician in Decatur, GA is $22.42, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.32 and $18.32 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does a Freelance Musician Do?

The job duties of a freelance musician mainly entail playing music in different settings for various events with an audience, from weddings and birthday parties to studio sessions, shows, and concerts. You may play one kind of instrument or many instruments based on your musical background and the needs of your client. As a freelancer, you may find clients yourself or work with an agency to book gigs and performances. Some of your responsibilities include bringing necessary musical equipment and instruments to a gig, setting up the equipment, and communicating with event coordinators to facilitate your musical performance. You may be a solo musician or be hired to play with other musicians.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Freelance Musician, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Musician, you need strong musical proficiency, versatility across genres, and often formal music education or training. Familiarity with digital audio workstations (DAWs), music notation software, and recording equipment is typically required. Excellent networking, communication, and self-marketing skills help musicians secure gigs and build lasting client relationships. These skills are crucial for maintaining creative output, adapting to changing demands, and achieving financial sustainability in a competitive industry.

How do freelance musicians typically find and secure new performance or recording opportunities?

Freelance musicians often rely on a combination of networking, online platforms, and personal branding to find new gigs and collaborations. Many build relationships with local venues, music directors, and fellow musicians to stay informed about upcoming opportunities. Additionally, maintaining an up-to-date portfolio or demo reel and having a strong online presence on platforms like SoundCloud or social media can help attract clients. Regularly reaching out to potential collaborators and responding promptly to inquiries is also important in a competitive freelance environment.

What are freelance musicians?

Freelance musicians are professional performers who are self-employed and work on a project-by-project basis rather than being tied to a single employer. They may perform in concerts, record music, teach lessons, or collaborate with other artists across a variety of genres. Freelance musicians often manage their own schedules, seek out gigs, negotiate contracts, and handle their own marketing and finances. This career path offers flexibility and creative freedom but also requires strong self-management and networking skills.

What is the difference between Freelance Musician vs Session Musician?

AspectFreelance MusicianSession Musician
CredentialsVaries; often self-taught or formal trainingOften formal training or professional experience
Work EnvironmentIndependent, self-managed projectsStudio recordings, live performances
Employer/Industry UsageClients, event organizers, individual artistsRecording studios, production companies
Search/Comparison IntentFlexible, independent workStudio recording sessions

Freelance Musicians typically work independently, managing their own projects and clients, while Session Musicians are hired for specific recording or performance sessions, often through agencies or studios. Both roles require musical skill, but Freelance Musicians have more control over their work, whereas Session Musicians focus on short-term, project-based engagements.

What are the most commonly searched types of Musician jobs in Decatur, GA? The most popular types of Musician jobs in Decatur, GA are:
What are popular job titles related to Freelance Musician jobs in Decatur, GA? For Freelance Musician jobs in Decatur, GA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Musician jobs in Decatur, GA look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Musician jobs in Decatur, GA are:
What cities near Decatur, GA are hiring for Freelance Musician jobs? Cities near Decatur, GA with the most Freelance Musician job openings:
Infographic showing various Freelance Musician job openings in Decatur, GA as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Full Time, and 96% Part Time. Highlights an 30% Physical, and 70% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,642 per year, or $22.4 per hour.
Asst. Professor Game Scoring and Adaptive Music

Asst. Professor Game Scoring and Adaptive Music

Strategic Education

Chamblee, GA

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago


Strategic Education rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

10th of 190 rated education and training


Job description

Media Design School at Strayer, a part of Strayer University and Strategic Education, Inc., is a globally recognized provider of creative and technology-focused education. Originally established in New Zealand and now integrated within Strayer's academic portfolio, Media Design School combines industry-driven curriculum with an emphasis on innovation, preparing students for careers in fields such as game development, animation, and digital design. As part of Strayer's broader mission to deliver flexible, career-relevant education and expand access to future-focused learning opportunities, Media Design School leverages global resources, industry partnerships, and a collaborative academic environment.
The Assistant Professor of Game Scoring and Adaptive Music will lead the development and delivery of curriculum focused on adaptive music for interactive media within both the Master of Fine Arts in Screen Scoring & Music Design and the corresponding Online Graduate Certificate program. This role serves as a key liaison to game arts programs at Media Design School, fostering collaboration among faculty and students across disciplines. The position reports directly to the Executive Dean.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
  • Serve as the lead instructor for MFA521 (Screen Scoring III: Adaptive) and MFA524 (Music Design Technology Lab), as well as related courses within the Online Graduate Certificate program
  • Recruit, mentor, and supervise adjunct faculty within the areas of game scoring, adaptive music, and music design technology
  • Conduct ongoing research to ensure coursework and student projects remain aligned with current industry practices and emerging trends
  • Engage in active outreach and relationship-building with game studios and independent game developers
  • Foster and maintain collaborative partnerships with Media Design School and other game design programs
Technical Skills:
  • Advanced proficiency with Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) for game music composition, including tools such as Logic Pro, Cubase, Reaper, and Pro Tools
  • Advanced experience utilizing game audio implementation middleware, such as Wwise and FMOD
  • Demonstrated expertise in game development platforms, including Unity and Unreal Engine
Professional Experience:
  • 2-3 years of experience in an on-staff or active freelance capacity with a game development studio (e.g., Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft) or comparable organizations; experience with independent (indie) game developers will also be considered
  • Demonstrated professional experience in the composition of adaptive music for games and interactive media

Education:

  • Bachelor's degree (e.g., B.A., B.F.A., B.Mus., or B.M.) in Music Composition or a related field with a focus on music for screen or interactive media; alternatively, a Bachelor's degree in a related game design discipline will be considered

  • A Master's degree (e.g., M.A. or M.F.A.) in a relevant field is preferred; equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree

Other:

  • Must be able to travel occasionally should a business need arise. For most roles travel would not be common. Travel may involve plane, car or metro. In accordance with ADA policies, reasonable accommodations regarding travel limitations can be provided. Travel will be more common for roles such as Account Executives (25 - 50%), senior leaders (10 - 20%) or Capella Core Faculty (5 - 10%).
  • Ability to work onsite in Corporate or Campus location (in a typical office environment) may be required based on role. If so, this would include being mobile within the office, including movement from floor-to-floor using elevators or stairs.
  • If offsite or hybrid role, must have access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.
  • Faculty and Federal Work Study roles require access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including computer, privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.
  • This role may require lifting, however reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with our ADA policies.
  • Must be able to meet critical thinking and problem solving aspects aligned to job duties, as well as effectively communicating with co-workers.
  • Must be able to work more than 40 hours per week when business needs warrant. Accommodations related to schedule may be considered.
  • Able to access information using a computer.
  • Other essential functions and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

#LI-JD1


SEI offers a comprehensive package of benefits to employees scheduled 30 hours or more per week. In addition to medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans, SEI employees may take advantage of well-being incentives, parental leave, paid time off, certain paid holidays, tax saving accounts (FSA, HSA), 401(k) retirement benefit, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, tuition assistance as well as entertainment and retail discounts. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay, if applicable.

Careers - Our Benefits, Strategic Education, Inc


SEI is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture where individuals can grow their careers and contribute fully. We strive to attract talent with broad experiences, skills and perspectives. We welcome applications from all. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top end of the pay range at SEI, we offer a competitive salary. The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate may vary depending on multiple factors including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, geographical location, and internal pay equity. Our Talent Acquisition Team is ready to discuss your interest in joining SEI. The expected salary range for this position is below.

$67,700.00 - $101,500.00 - Salary


If you require reasonable accommodations to complete our application process, please contact our Human Resources Department at Careers@strategiced.com.


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