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Professional Music Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Professional Music Teaching Association membership preferred. * Multiple instrument experience preferred. Love this gig and want to apply? Send your resume and cover letter today along with salary ...

$30 - $34/hr

Founded in 2000, Ellsworth Music prides itself on providing fun, personalized, and professional music retail services and music education to hundreds of customers and students of all skill levels in ...

VA · On-site

$30 - $34/hr

Founded in 2000, Ellsworth Music prides itself on providing fun, personalized, and professional music retail services and music education to hundreds of customers and students of all skill levels in ...

Music Producer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$36 - $46/hr

Music Producer Location: San Francisco, CA (3 days onsite) Duration: 6 months + Extensions ... Our solutions are tailored to each client and include a wide variety of professional services ...

New

Valid Driver's License, current automobile insurance, and reliable transportation are required * 1 - 2 years of career or professional Music Therapy experience preferred * Hospice experience ...

While working alongside professional Music Therapists, the fellow will work to provide care that addresses the developmental and psychosocial needs of a diverse population of infants, children ...

Music Therapy Fellow

Cincinnati, OH · On-site

$46K - $57K/yr

While working alongside professional Music Therapists, the fellow will work to provide care that addresses the developmental and psychosocial needs of a diverse population of infants, children ...

Valid Driver's License, current automobile insurance, and reliable transportation are required * 1 - 2 years of career or professional Music Therapy experience preferred * Hospice experience ...

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Professional Music information

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$6

$24

$53

How much do professional music jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for professional music in the United States is $24.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.90 and $28.85 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a professional musician?

A professional musician is someone who earns a living by performing, composing, recording, or teaching music. This can include instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, arrangers, conductors, and music educators. Professional musicians may work independently, join bands or orchestras, or collaborate on various projects across genres. Their work often involves live performances, studio recordings, and sometimes writing or arranging music for themselves or others.

What is the difference between Professional Music vs Music Teacher?

AspectProfessional MusicMusic Teacher
Required CredentialsMusic degree, performance experienceMusic degree, teaching certification often preferred
Work EnvironmentConcert halls, recording studios, personal studiosSchools, private lessons, community centers
Employer & Industry UsageMusic industry, entertainment, freelanceEducational institutions, private clients
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Professional Music involves performing, recording, or composing music for entertainment or commercial purposes, often in a freelance or industry setting. Music Teachers focus on instructing students in music theory, instrument skills, and performance, typically within educational or private settings. While both roles require musical expertise and similar credentials, their work environments and career goals differ significantly.

What careers are in the music industry?

The music industry offers careers such as musician, singer, composer, music producer, sound engineer, music teacher, and music therapist. These roles often require skills in performance, audio technology, music theory, and sometimes certifications or formal training. Opportunities exist in live performance, recording studios, education, and music therapy settings.

What job can I do if I like music?

If you enjoy music, you can pursue careers such as a musician, music teacher, sound engineer, music producer, or audio technician. These roles often require skills in playing instruments, music theory, audio editing software, and sometimes certifications or formal training. Opportunities exist in live performance, recording studios, education, and media production.

What is the highest paid job in music?

The highest paid jobs in music typically include music directors, composers for film and television, and top-tier recording artists, with salaries reaching into the millions for successful individuals. These roles often require advanced skills, industry connections, and a strong reputation, and income can vary widely based on experience, project scope, and market demand.

What are some common challenges professional musicians face when collaborating with other artists or ensembles?

Professional musicians often collaborate with a wide range of artists, ensembles, and production teams. One common challenge is aligning creative visions and adapting to different musical styles or interpretations, which requires flexibility and strong communication skills. Scheduling rehearsals and performances can also be difficult, given the varied commitments among collaborators. Additionally, effective collaboration often involves navigating feedback and constructive criticism in a way that maintains a positive and productive working environment.

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

To thrive as a Professional Musician, you need advanced musical proficiency, a strong understanding of music theory, and often formal education or training in your instrument or vocal specialty. Familiarity with audio recording software, digital instruments, and music notation programs like Sibelius or Finale is typically required. Creativity, discipline, and strong collaboration skills set outstanding musicians apart in both solo and group settings. These skills ensure consistent high-quality performances, adaptability in diverse musical environments, and successful career management in a competitive industry.

What career paths exist in music?

Career paths in music include roles such as performer, composer, music producer, sound engineer, music teacher, and music therapist. These careers often require specific skills, such as proficiency with instruments, music theory knowledge, and familiarity with recording technology or software. Opportunities can be found in live performance, recording studios, education, and media production.
What cities are hiring for Professional Music jobs? Cities with the most Professional Music job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Music jobs? The most popular types of Music jobs are:
What states have the most Professional Music jobs? States with the most job openings for Professional Music jobs include:
Infographic showing various Professional Music job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 65% Full Time, 33% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,418 per year, or $24.2 per hour.
Music Therapist, Thought Disorders Unit

Music Therapist, Thought Disorders Unit

Sheppard Pratt

Elkridge, MD • On-site

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago


Sheppard Pratt rating

6.2

Company rating: 6.2 out of 10

Based on 43 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

699th of 886 rated healthcare providers


Job description

Responsibilities:
Customer Relations
  • Contributes in creating a learning environment that values, empowers, enriches and supports patients/students and other staff.

Patient Assessment/Treatment Planning
  • Develops a professional treatment plan that meets patient needs and complements the services provided by other treatment team members.
  • Applies knowledge of normal growth and development for specific patient population through the use of accepted conceptual principles, e.g. Erikson.

Provision of Treatment/Services
  • Provides professional music treatment/services to individuals and groups based on the specific needs and diagnosis of the patient populations.

Documentation/Reporting
  • Completes written documentation and data entry into the electronic medical records (EMR) to record initial patient assessment and ongoing treatment and progress through discharge in compliance with Hospital and program standards.
  • Reports pertinent patient observations to treatment team.

Requirements:
  • Work requires comprehensive knowledge of clinical psychology and music theory and practice and basic computer usage skills - acquired through a Bachelor's degree in music therapy from a college or university program approved by the American Music Therapy Association plus 1-2 years related experience or through a Masters degree in music therapy from an accredited college or university plus 3-6 months related work experience.
  • Must be licensed by the State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Music Therapists to practice Music Therapy at the time of appointment and continuously while holding the position. One of the following certifications is required at the time of appointment and continuously while holding the position: Must be certified by the Certification Board of Music Therapists (BC-MT) or hold the designations of ACMT, CMT or RMT.
  • Work requires substantial interpersonal skills sufficient to interact effectively and professionally with multidisciplinary staff, faculty, and patients from a wide variety of diagnostic groups, cultural backgrounds, and functioning levels (51-80% of work time).
  • Work requires a relatively high level of analytical skills sufficient to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment interventions and programs. Work also requires creative and adaptive modifications of treatment approaches and techniques where treatment objectives are difficult to achieve.
  • Working with emotionally disturbed and often unpredictable patients, and exercising safety precautions frequently (21 - 50% of work time) produces a high level of mental/visual fatigue.
  • Work requires talking, hearing, mid-range vision, depth perception, color vision and field of vision.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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About Sheppard Pratt

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Sheppard Pratt is the nation's largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, special education, developmental disability, and social services. We serve over 70,000 people every year and have over 160 programs in 16 counties throughout the State of Maryland. Our mission is to improve the quality of life of individuals and families by compassionately serving their mental health, addiction, special education, and community support needs. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Sheppard Pratt as one of the top psychiatric hospitals in the nation for the past thirty years. ! Sheppard Pratt is committed to fostering a safe, welcoming, and diverse environment for employees and patients, and recently earned the "LGBTQ Health Care Equality Top Performer" designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Sheppard Pratt currently has 5,000 employees, and we are always looking to add compassionate and caring members to our team. If you are someone who is interested in behavioral health, psychology, education, nursing, or social work, Sheppard Pratt is the right fit for you."

Industry

Offices of mental health practitioners

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Baltimore, MD, US

Year founded

1853