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Touring Musician Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Manhead

Director of Touring

Nashville, TN · On-site

For over thirteen years, Manhead has succeeded as one of the leading, independently owned music/entertainment merchandise companies, specializing in touring, e-commerce, creative, retail, licensing ...

CAA

Assistant - Music Touring

Los Angeles, CA

$20 - $22/hr

The Role We are looking for an assistant who will provide administrative support to an Agent in our Music Touring Department. The ideal candidate should be motivated, interested in the concert ...

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Touring Musician information

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How much do touring musician jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for touring musician in the United States is $21.56, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.98 and $29.33 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What jobs do touring musicians have?

Touring musicians typically work as performers, playing instruments and singing during live shows. They may also take on roles such as backup singers, band members, or session musicians, often traveling extensively and using tools like sound equipment and stage setups. Additional jobs can include road crew, sound engineers, or tour managers supporting the touring process.

How to get a job working on a music tour?

To become a touring musician, build a strong skill set through practice and performance experience, network with industry professionals, and create a professional portfolio or demo. Many touring musicians start by playing local gigs, joining bands, or working as session musicians before securing tour opportunities, which often require good communication, reliability, and knowledge of equipment and logistics.

How much do musicians make on tours?

Touring musicians' earnings vary widely based on experience, popularity, and the size of the tour. Established artists can earn thousands to millions per tour, while lesser-known musicians may earn a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per show. Income often includes performance fees, merchandise sales, and sometimes a share of ticket revenue.

What jobs in the US pay 300,000 a year?

For touring musicians, earning $300,000 or more annually typically requires a high level of success, extensive experience, and often involves multiple income streams such as touring, recording, and endorsements. Other jobs that can reach this salary level include specialized medical professionals, corporate executives, and certain technology roles like software engineers or data scientists with senior or leadership positions. Achieving this income often depends on industry demand, reputation, and geographic location.

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

To thrive as a Touring Musician, you need exceptional musical talent, proficiency on your instrument or voice, and a solid understanding of music theory, often backed by formal training or significant performance experience. Familiarity with sound equipment, digital audio workstations, and tour logistics software is valuable, along with knowledge of live sound setups. Strong interpersonal skills, adaptability, and resilience help musicians succeed in diverse environments and manage the demands of travel. These skills enable consistent high-quality performances, efficient collaboration, and successful navigation of the unique challenges of life on the road.

What Does a Touring Musician Do?

Touring musicians travel to different venues in various cities to play music. Some are part of a band, ensemble, or orchestra and travel to different places as part of the group's seasonal concert lineup. Other touring musicians are temporary performers who are hired by music producers or other musicians to play with the group on a particular show or during a series of shows. These kinds of touring musicians often work with a variety of groups and go by car, plane, or other means of transportation to meet up with their temporary employer. Touring musicians may work sporadically, depending on demand, or they may obtain permanent, full-time positions within a musical group.

What are touring musicians?

Touring musicians are professional performers who travel to different locations to play live music, either as solo artists or as part of a band or ensemble. Their main job involves performing at concerts, festivals, or events in various cities, often as part of a scheduled tour. In addition to performing, touring musicians are responsible for rehearsing, traveling, setting up equipment, and engaging with fans. The role can be physically and mentally demanding due to frequent travel, irregular hours, and the need for adaptability. However, it also offers unique opportunities for artistic expression, travel, and building a fan base.

What is the difference between Touring Musician vs Session Musician?

AspectTouring MusicianSession Musician
CredentialsMusical proficiency, performance experienceMusical proficiency, studio experience
Work EnvironmentLive concerts, toursRecording studios, remote sessions
Employer & Industry UsageBands, artists, touring companiesRecording studios, producers, artists
Search & Comparison IntentTouring Musician vs Session Musician

Touring Musicians primarily perform live with artists during tours and concerts, focusing on live performance skills. Session Musicians, on the other hand, are hired to record music in studios or remotely, emphasizing studio proficiency. Both roles require strong musical skills, but their work environments and job focuses differ significantly.

What are some common challenges touring musicians face while on the road, and how can they be managed?

Touring musicians often encounter challenges such as adapting to different venues, managing tight travel schedules, and maintaining their physical and mental health. Long hours on the road and irregular routines can make it difficult to get adequate rest and nutrition. To manage these challenges, many musicians prioritize self-care, maintain open communication with their team, and develop routines that help them stay organized and prepared for each performance. Building strong relationships with tour managers and other crew members also helps create a supportive environment while traveling.
More about Touring Musician jobs
What cities are hiring for Touring Musician jobs? Cities with the most Touring Musician job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Touring Musician jobs? The most popular types of Touring Musician jobs are:
What states have the most Touring Musician jobs? States with the most job openings for Touring Musician jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Touring Musician jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Touring Musician jobs are:
Touring Musician jobs near you
Infographic showing various Touring Musician job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 52% Full Time, 43% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,855 per year, or $21.6 per hour.
Director of Touring

Director of Touring

Manhead

Nashville, TN • On-site

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

About Manhead LLC
Manhead is a worldwide, full service, merchandise and experiential company creating the global intersection of music, fashion and culture through branded experiences that strengthen the bond between artists and fans. For over thirteen years, Manhead has succeeded as one of the leading, independently owned music/entertainment merchandise companies, specializing in touring, e-commerce, creative, retail, licensing, collaborations, and pop-up shops.
About the role
The Director of Touring will be responsible for leading the execution and strategic direction of the company's global tour merchandising efforts. They will ensure the tour team's success in delivering compelling tour lines that achieve financial targets while upholding operational excellence and high-touch client service. This position will oversee all logistics, budgeting, forecasting efforts, and product development for tours ranging from $1M to $10M in sales, with a department of 5 team members.
What you'll do
The Director of Touring's success will be measured by three key areas:
Leadership:
  • Create and nurture an inspiring team environment with an open communication culture by:
  • Coaching the tour team members by setting clear goals and developing the necessary skills to achieve results.
  • Provide thought-leadership to tour coordinators in logistical planning to ensure timely and cost-effective arrival of on-site show merchandise.
  • Lead department meetings to review sales performance, reinforce core values, and to help team members trouble-shoot challenges as they arise internally and/or on the road.
  • Effectively communicate the tour department's goals, objectives, and results, to cross-functional teams, and senior executive level management.

Operations:
  • Spearhead the day-to-day execution of tour merchandising planning, including sales forecasting, product development, order projections, logistics, warehousing, and final accounting.
  • Collaborate closely with Brand Management to develop unique tour products that maximize sales and profits, while maintaining brand equity, creative integrity, and high-quality standards.
  • Hire road managers, regional vending staff, and 3PLs for trucking, trailers, and 'on the road' equipment.
  • Serve as an intermediary between tour coordinators and production managers to ensure deliverables are clearly communicated and actioned in a timely manner.
  • Help to identify and manage relationships with all international touring partners.
  • Provide close oversight to tour coordinators, ensuring on-site sales are closely monitored and inventory is replenished accurately throughout the tour cycle.
  • Implement new processes to improve communication, streamline workflow, and minimize inventory overstock.
  • Oversee tour coordinators and optimizing productivity and positive net outcomes of all tours.
  • Provide strategic oversight of the tour warehouse operation, ensuring inventory accuracy, operational efficiency, staffing alignment, and cross-functional coordination to support flawless tour execution and on-time deliveries.
  • Sporadically travel to concerts, festivals, pop-up shops and award shows to oversee visual merchandising and adherence to quality standards.

Financial Reporting:
  • Work with the Chief Operating Officer and Controller to forecast monthly, quarterly, and yearly departmental budgets.
  • Provide clients with a "road map" to success by developing and presenting tour sales plans.
  • Review all tour settlements to ensure proper, accurate, timely and complete financial reporting and tour royalty payments.
  • Collaborate with Artist Relations to determine the financial viability of new client prospects.
  • Track all venue receivables and help accounting and tour coordinators expedite delays in collections.

Qualifications
  • 7+ years of experience working in tour and event merchandising for independent and major label recording artists.
  • A minimum of 3 years of experience managing small teams both internally and on the road.
  • Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet ambitious deadlines.
  • Proficient in inventory and project management, tools such as Atvenu, ShipHero, Monday, Excel, QuickBase, and Tallie.
  • Broad knowledge of all music merchandising verticals, including E-commerce, Retail/Licensing, and VIP Ticketing.
  • Existing relationships with vendors, suppliers and 3rd party logistics companies preferred but not required.
  • Must have a strong pulse on music-fashion trends and a deep understanding of fan demographics across rock, country, hip-hop and Pop music genres.
  • Bachelor's degree in business management, accounting or marketing is preferred but not required.

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