# Musicians and Singers

> Play one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/musicians-and-singers
- SOC code: 27-2042.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: not reported
- Projected growth: Little or no change, +0.3%
- Openings a year: 17,400
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code AES)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 31 |
| Investigative (I) | 9 |
| Artistic (A) | 94 |
| Social (S) | 40 |
| Enterprising (E) | 40 |
| Conventional (C) | 19 |

## What you'd do

- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 80/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 73/100)
- Processing Information (importance 71/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 71/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 69/100)
- Getting Information (importance 66/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 63/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 62/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 57/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 54/100)

## Skills

Speaking, Active Listening, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Critical Thinking, Service Orientation, Time Management, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Fine Arts, Education and Training, English Language, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Communications and Media, Sociology and Anthropology, Computers and Electronics, Psychology, History and Archeology

## Also called

Accompanist, Bandperson, Bass Player, Bassoonist, Bugler, Bull Fiddle Player, Calliope Player, Cantor, Cellist, Choir Accompanist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Music](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5009) (CIP 5009, 1,381 colleges)
- [Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5005) (CIP 5005, 1,130 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Sonoma State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/sonoma-state-university-2438) | Music | $39,731 | $65,533 | not reported |
| [University of Notre Dame-South Bend IN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-notre-dame-south-bend-in-3005) | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $62,573 | $64,880 | $19,000 |
| [Stevens Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stevens-institute-of-technology-2604) | Music | $27,281 | $61,943 | $27,000 |
| [University of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-2910) | Music | $56,011 | $61,446 | $13,725 |
| [Northeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northeastern-university-1923) | Music | $48,272 | $60,974 | $18,500 |
| [The University of Texas at El Paso](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-el-paso-2766) | Music | $59,229 | $60,172 | $17,334 |
| [University of Redlands](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-redlands-3024) | Music | not reported | $59,275 | $23,322 |
| [The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley-2774) | Music | $54,156 | $59,218 | $13,956 |

## Related careers

- [Music Directors and Composers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/music-directors-and-composers): $73,710 median pay
- [Actors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/actors)
- [Choreographers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/choreographers): $55,310 median pay
- [Dancers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dancers)
- [Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/art-drama-and-music-teachers-postsecondary): $78,620 median pay
- [Talent Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/talent-directors): $90,360 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.