Perform music live or in recordings as an instrumentalist, vocalist, ensemble member, or session artist.
You may also see this posted as: Choir Member, Musician, Singer, Violinist, Chorister, Gospel Singer.
Venues, studios, theaters, houses of worship, and touring locations.
Irregular and project-based; nights, weekends, travel, and unpaid practice are common.
Artistic
creating, designing, performing, or working without a rigid script
Enterprising
leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action
Social
helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people
O*NET job zone 4 of 5
High preparation—usually a four-year degree plus experience—is common.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
BLS estimates 46.8% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
No formal credential
Training path: Years of practice and auditions; formal study is common but not required.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training.
No license required to start in most places.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
BLS reports an hourly median because performances and recording work are intermittent, not a standard annual salary.
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Browse verified internships, fellowships, and programs — many paid — that lead into fields like this.
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Standard Occupational Classification 27-2042. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.