Career Outlook – Musical occupations for music lovers

Rock ’n’ roll. Jazz. Calypso. There are many different types of music, each with its own style. And just as musical styles vary, so, too, do occupations in the music world. 

Musician and singer are popular choices for a musical career. But even if you can’t carry a tune, you can incorporate music into your work. Dancers, composers, and sound engineering technicians, for example, all work with music in various ways.

And for many, making music a career is a lifelong dream. “I started playing the piano at age 6 and fell in love instantly,” says Ciara McAllister, a pianist and music teacher in San Francisco, California. “I feel lucky to be able to make a living in music, my biggest passion.”

This article provides an overview of different types of careers for music lovers. The first section profiles several occupations that involve music. The second section describes how you can prepare for a music-related career. The third section details some of the high and low notes of working in music. Career resources are presented at the end.

Musical occupations

Many occupations involve music, sometimes in ways you might not expect. And some of these occupations combine music with other interests, such as dance or technology.

• Broadcast and sound engineering technicians
• Dancers and choreographers
• Music directors and composers
• Musicians and singers
• Music teachers

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at Careers for music lovers : Career Outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.