Music Teachers
Overview
Introduction
Music teachers instruct people on how to sing, play musical instruments, and appreciate and enjoy the world of music. They teach private lessons and classes. They may work at home or in a studio, school, college, or conservatory. Many music teachers are also performing musicians. Music teachers make up a very small percentage of the more than 2.5 million elementary and secondary school teachers employed in the United States. There are approximately 127,400 college and university music, art, and drama professors in the United States....
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Music teachers earn a wide range of salaries based on their level of expertise, geographic location, whether they work full- or part-time, and other factors. According to PayScale.com, music teachers (no school grade level specified) employed in the U.S. in January 2025 earned a median salary of $50,098. Earnings ranged from $32,000 to $79,000.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) reported...
Work Environment
Most elementary and secondary school music teachers are contracted to work 10 months out of the year, with a two-month vacation during the summer. During their summer break, many continue their education to renew or upgrade their teaching licenses and earn higher salaries. Teachers in schools that operate year-round work eight-week sessions with one-week breaks in between and a five-week vacati...
Outlook
Although music programs are on the rebound in many schools, some public schools facing severe budget problems are still eliminating music programs, making competition for jobs at these schools even keener. In addition, private music teachers are facing greater competition from instrumental musicians who increasingly must turn to teaching because of the oversupply of musicians seeking playing jo...
