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Musical Composer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Valicy

Composer/Sound Designer

Wilmington, NC · On-site

Job Title : Composer/Sound Designer Location: Wilmington, North Carolina Department: NC Sound ... REQUIREMENTS: ● Bachelor's degree in music or degree in relevant Audio field. ● Minimum of 2 ...

TrueShort

AI Music Composer & Editor

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

Develop unique musical identities for original series, films, and recurring characters * Edit, arrange, and place music within completed episodes to enhance pacing, emotion, and narrative impact

Weekday AI

Music & Lyrics Expert - Swedish

$42 - $78/hr

Evaluate AI-generated lyrics across different musical genres and styles. * Compare generated lyrics ... Musician or Performer * Composer * Music Journalist * Music Critic * Other relevant music ...

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Musical Composer information

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How much do musical composer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for musical composer in the United States is $26.10, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.51 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a musical composer?

Musical composers are individuals who create and write original music. They craft melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and structures for various types of compositions, such as songs, symphonies, film scores, or video game soundtracks. Composers may write music for orchestras, bands, solo instruments, choirs, or digital production. Their work involves a deep understanding of music theory and often collaboration with performers, conductors, and producers to bring their compositions to life.

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

To thrive as a Musical Composer, you need a deep understanding of music theory, composition techniques, and proficiency in at least one instrument, often supported by formal music education. Familiarity with digital audio workstations (DAWs), notation software like Sibelius or Finale, and recording equipment is typically required. Creativity, strong collaboration skills, and the ability to accept feedback help composers excel in diverse musical projects. These skills and qualities enable composers to produce original, high-quality music that meets the artistic and technical needs of clients, performers, or audiences.

How does a musical composer typically collaborate with performers and other creatives during a project?

As a musical composer, you’ll often work closely with performers, conductors, and sometimes directors or producers, especially when creating music for concerts, film, or theater. Collaboration usually involves sharing drafts, receiving feedback, and making adjustments to ensure the music fits the intended mood and technical capabilities of the performers. Regular communication and flexibility are important, as you may need to revise your compositions based on rehearsals or creative input from others. This collaborative process helps bring your musical vision to life while meeting the needs of the broader creative team.

What is the difference between Musical Composer vs Sound Designer?

AspectMusical ComposerSound Designer
CredentialsMusic degree, composition certificationsAudio engineering, sound design certifications
Work EnvironmentMusic studios, film sets, theatersPost-production studios, gaming, film
Industry UsageFilm, TV, theater, video gamesFilm, video games, advertising
Primary FocusCreating original music and melodiesCreating and manipulating sound effects

While both roles involve working with audio, a Musical Composer primarily creates original music for various media, focusing on melodies and harmonies. A Sound Designer, on the other hand, specializes in crafting sound effects and audio textures to enhance visual media. Both roles require technical skills and industry knowledge but serve different creative purposes within the audio production process.

How much do musical composers make?

Musical composers' earnings vary widely based on experience, industry, and project type. According to industry data, freelance composers can earn from $30,000 to over $100,000 annually, with top professionals in film, television, and video game scoring earning significantly more. Success often depends on portfolio quality, networking, and the ability to secure high-profile projects.

Is a musical composer a good career?

A musical composer creates original music for various media such as films, TV, and performances, often requiring strong musical skills, creativity, and proficiency with digital audio workstations. The career can be competitive and income varies widely based on experience, reputation, and project opportunities. Success often depends on networking, portfolio development, and continuous skill improvement.

Is there a demand for musical composers?

The demand for musical composers varies across industries such as film, television, video games, and advertising, where original music is often required. While competition can be high, skills in digital audio workstations and a strong portfolio can improve job prospects, especially as media production continues to grow globally.
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What job categories do people searching Musical Composer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Musical Composer jobs are:

Musical Composer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Musical Composer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 51% Full Time, 48% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $54,282 per year, or $26.1 per hour.

Composer/Sound Designer

Valicy

Wilmington, NC • On-site

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Job Title: Composer/Sound Designer
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Department: NC Sound
Reports To: Lead Composer/Sound Designer
Status: Exempt
Please include a link to your portfolio showcasing your best work. Applicants may be asked to complete an audio test for the hiring manager(s).
This position will be full time in person at our Wilmington Studio. This is NOT a remote position.
WHO WE ARE:
We are Valicy.

We make games. We also make the machines they run on.

What we're building matters. How we treat people matters more.
OUR MISSION:
We exist to create excellent gaming experiences, treat our customers the way we want to be treated, and positively impact people's lives through a culture of care.
Seven values guide how we work. We call it our FIGHTER mindset:
Fun: Enjoy the journey together
Innovative: Consistently pushing new boundaries through creativity
Growth: Committed to growing personally and professionally
Humble amp; Passionate: It’s important to be both
Teamwork: Built on trust, healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, and results
Excellence: Pursuing high standards in everything we do
Relational: Building trust and relationships with customers and teammates


If this is the kind of place you've been looking for, let's talk.

SUMMARY: Valicy is looking for a talented and full-time composer/sound designer to be a part of an innovative and highly collaborative team of artists, game programmers, and other audio professionals. Our goal is to provide entertaining gaming experiences for the video slots and casino market. The Composer/Sound Designer should not only have the necessary experience, but also the drive and passion to create fun, exhilarating audio for our games.
QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
● Understand company Mission, Vision, and Values and be an ambassador of MVV.
● Compose, arrange, and produce original full-length songs to reflect and enhance any given game theme.
● Design sound effects that enhance gameplay, help provide clarity for in-game features and grab a player’s attention.
● Collaborate with multiple teams of artists, programmers, and game designers to create the most cohesive experience for each project.
● Deliver audio assets to game developers and ensure audio assets are correctly implemented.
● Mix audio on game hardware to ensure audio translates to the player experience as intended.
● Adapt to creative feedback and changes to project scope, style, and timeline.
● Offer and develop innovative ways to maximize the slots and casino experience in each of our games.
REQUIREMENTS:
● Bachelor's degree in music or degree in relevant Audio field.
● Minimum of 2 years relevant work experience.
● Strong familiarity with music theory and various musical styles.
● Working knowledge and efficiency with Logic Pro X.
● Familiarity with industry standard sample libraries.
● Skilled at playing piano and using MIDI keyboards for tracking and composing.
● Working knowledge of recording and mixing.
● Incredibly comfortable writing music and designing sound effects for any given style on a tight deadline.
● Highly adaptable with the ability to receive and accept constructive feedback and criticism.
● Strong verbal and written communication skills
● Professional and enthusiastic work ethic.
Preferred Requirements:
● Postsecondary Degree/Certificate in Music, Audio Production, or related field.
● Experience working with game audio, video slots and casino games.
● Experience working with the human voice.
● Experience with Unity.
This Job Description is to be used as a guide for accomplishing Company objectives. The description incorporates the most typical duties performed and covers only the primary functions and responsibilities of the position. It is recognized that other related duties not specifically mentioned may also be performed. The inclusion of those duties would not alter the overall evaluation of this position.

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