U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsPlay one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for on-air broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42,530 | 3.1 % | $31.74 | (4) | 3.7 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $8.63 | $12.34 | $22.99 | $40.71 | $66.01 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performing Arts Companies | 23,310 | 20.58 | $34.85 | (4) |
| Religious Organizations | 7,310 | 3.97 | $25.51 | (4) |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | 2,540 | 2.64 | $42.14 | (4) |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | 1,910 | 4.00 | $39.22 | (4) |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | 1,550 | 0.95 | $20.56 | (4) |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performing Arts Companies | 23,310 | 20.58 | $34.85 | (4) |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | 1,910 | 4.00 | $39.22 | (4) |
| Religious Organizations | 7,310 | 3.97 | $25.51 | (4) |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | 2,540 | 2.64 | $42.14 | (4) |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | 1,550 | 0.95 | $20.56 | (4) |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | 2,540 | 2.64 | $42.14 | (4) |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | 1,910 | 4.00 | $39.22 | (4) |
| Traveler Accommodation | 130 | 0.01 | $35.30 | (4) |
| Performing Arts Companies | 23,310 | 20.58 | $34.85 | (4) |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | 220 | 0.06 | $31.73 | (4) |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 7,410 | 0.88 | 2.65 | $41.32 | (4) |
| California | 7,360 | 0.52 | 1.58 | $46.78 | (4) |
| Florida | 3,530 | 0.49 | 1.49 | $15.78 | (4) |
| Texas | 2,090 | 0.20 | 0.61 | $21.90 | (4) |
| Tennessee | 2,040 | 0.78 | 2.36 | $31.51 | (4) |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 7,410 | 0.88 | 2.65 | $41.32 | (4) |
| Tennessee | 2,040 | 0.78 | 2.36 | $31.51 | (4) |
| Oregon | 1,150 | 0.73 | 2.19 | $35.52 | (4) |
| Hawaii | 410 | 0.71 | 2.14 | $30.30 | (4) |
| District of Columbia | 400 | 0.62 | 1.86 | $25.86 | (4) |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 540 | 0.17 | 0.52 | $53.91 | (4) |
| Oklahoma | 190 | 0.13 | 0.39 | $47.37 | (4) |
| California | 7,360 | 0.52 | 1.58 | $46.78 | (4) |
| New York | 7,410 | 0.88 | 2.65 | $41.32 | (4) |
| Georgia | 890 | 0.24 | 0.71 | $37.44 | (4) |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 5,270 | 1.04 | 3.14 | $45.74 | (4) |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 2,800 | 0.73 | 2.21 | $58.63 | (4) |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,480 | 2.05 | 6.19 | $37.70 | (4) |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,340 | 0.97 | 2.91 | $30.63 | (4) |
| Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division | 1,150 | 0.32 | 0.97 | (8) | (4) |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 940 | 0.96 | 2.90 | $12.47 | (4) |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 790 | 0.81 | 2.44 | $35.89 | (4) |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 760 | 0.79 | 2.39 | $52.02 | (4) |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 750 | 0.37 | 1.11 | $17.70 | (4) |
| Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH | 670 | 0.69 | 2.07 | $18.73 | (4) |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,480 | 2.05 | 6.19 | $37.70 | (4) |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 190 | 1.72 | 5.19 | $20.86 | (4) |
| Binghamton, NY | 180 | 1.66 | 5.02 | $26.48 | (4) |
| Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA | 210 | 1.28 | 3.85 | $44.46 | (4) |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 150 | 1.25 | 3.78 | $23.11 | (4) |
| Appleton, WI | 140 | 1.19 | 3.58 | $11.57 | (4) |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 5,270 | 1.04 | 3.14 | $45.74 | (4) |
| West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL Metropolitan Division | 500 | 1.01 | 3.04 | $16.49 | (4) |
| Norwich-New London, CT-RI | 130 | 0.98 | 2.94 | $35.16 | (4) |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,340 | 0.97 | 2.91 | $30.63 | (4) |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 100 | 0.34 | 1.03 | $63.24 | (4) |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 2,800 | 0.73 | 2.21 | $58.63 | (4) |
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division | 500 | 0.30 | 0.91 | $55.55 | (4) |
| San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division | 760 | 0.79 | 2.39 | $52.02 | (4) |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 180 | 0.31 | 0.94 | $48.22 | (4) |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 210 | 0.24 | 0.73 | $46.80 | (4) |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 5,270 | 1.04 | 3.14 | $45.74 | (4) |
| Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA | 210 | 1.28 | 3.85 | $44.46 | (4) |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 290 | 0.25 | 0.76 | $43.96 | (4) |
| Spokane, WA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $42.97 | (4) |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii / Maui / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 0.93 | 2.81 | $31.82 | (4) |
| Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 1.74 | 5.23 | (8) | (4) |
| Eastern Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.87 | 2.63 | $15.58 | (4) |
| Southern Oregon and Linn County nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.83 | 2.50 | $29.95 | (4) |
| Coastal Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.09 | 3.28 | $23.85 | (4) |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 1.74 | 5.23 | (8) | (4) |
| Coastal Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.09 | 3.28 | $23.85 | (4) |
| Hawaii / Maui / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 0.93 | 2.81 | $31.82 | (4) |
| Eastern Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 0.87 | 2.63 | $15.58 | (4) |
| Southern Oregon and Linn County nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.83 | 2.50 | $29.95 | (4) |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii / Maui / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 0.93 | 2.81 | $31.82 | (4) |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.34 | 1.04 | $30.03 | (4) |
| Southern Oregon and Linn County nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 0.83 | 2.50 | $29.95 | (4) |
| Coastal Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.09 | 3.28 | $23.85 | (4) |
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.24 | 0.73 | $22.89 | (4) |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(4) Wages for some occupations that do not generally work year-round, full time, are reported either as hourly wages or annual salaries depending on how they are typically paid.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2011 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order
List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order
Download May 2011 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped XLS files
Last Modified Date: March 27, 2012
