Secondary school teacher
Secondary school teachers teach one or two subjects to students aged about eleven or twelve to eighteen and prepare them for national exams.
What can you do with a music degree?
Also called: Music studies · Musicology · Music performance · Bachelor of Music
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
A music degree develops your skills as a musician together with your understanding of how music is made, performed and studied. Depending on the programme, the focus may be performance, composition, musicology or music technology. Graduates become performers, composers and music teachers, and they also work in event management, writing, media and the wider creative industries.
Careers with a music degree
Music graduates follow many different paths, and many build careers that combine several kinds of work. Some perform, compose or produce music, often as freelancers. Many teach, either as secondary or primary teachers in schools or as private instrument and voice teachers. Others work behind the scenes as event managers, arts administrators or sound engineers, or become writers and critics. The discipline, creativity and teamwork that musicians develop are also valued outside music, for example in marketing, media and education.
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Primary school teacher
Primary school teachers teach children aged about five or six to eleven or twelve, usually covering most subjects with one class.
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Event manager
Event managers plan and run events such as conferences, exhibitions, festivals, weddings, product launches and sports events.
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Writer
Writers create written work such as novels, non-fiction books, scripts, poems, articles, advertising copy and website content.
Other roles graduates go into: Musician · Composer · Music therapist · Sound engineer · Music producer · Arts administrator
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Performance on your main instrument or voice
- Composition and arranging
- Music theory, harmony and analysis
- Music history and musicology
- Music technology, recording and production
- Music from different cultures and traditions
- Ensemble playing and collaboration
- The music industry and working as a freelancer
Skills you gain
- Performing with confidence in front of an audience
- Disciplined, regular practice and self-motivation
- Listening closely and analysing music
- Working in groups and ensembles
- Using recording and music software
- Managing your own projects and freelance work
How the degree differs around the world
Music can be studied at a university, where programmes often include more academic study, or at a conservatoire or music academy, where the focus is on performance and composition. In the UK and much of Europe, a bachelor's degree usually takes three to four years. In the United States, it normally takes four years, and you can choose a Bachelor of Music, which focuses on performance, or a broader Bachelor of Arts with a music major. Entry to performance programmes usually depends on an audition, and many also test music theory. In many countries, teaching music in state schools also requires a teaching qualification.
How do music graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Arts”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 95 (2023) | 92.8% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Mexico | 93 (2023) | 81.2% (2024) | 81.5% |
| Slovenia | 89 (2020) | 87.5% (2024) | 90.8% |
| Denmark | 86 (2023) | 76.9% (2021) | 87.8% |
| Australia | 85 (2020) | 86.9% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Austria | 84 (2023) | 84.7% (2024) | 86.4% |
| South Korea | 84 (2023) | — | — |
| Sweden | 82 (2023) | 83.8% (2024) | 89.6% |
| Finland | 81 (2022) | 86.7% (2024) | 88.8% |
| Norway | 78 (2023) | 86.8% (2024) | 89.3% |
| United Kingdom | 77 (2020) | 82.0% (2021) | 84.6% |
| United States | 77 (2023) | 80.8% (2017) | 84.3% |
| Estonia | 76 (2023) | 90.1% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Chile | 75 (2023) | 85.2% (2022) | 85.7% |
| Latvia | 75 (2023) | 81.1% (2024) | 87.7% |
| Canada | 74 (2020) | 76.4% (2021) | 80.4% |
| Switzerland | 73 (2023) | 86.8% (2024) | 89.5% |
| Costa Rica | 71 (2023) | 58.3% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Portugal | 70 (2020) | 85.6% (2024) | 90.7% |
| Germany | 68 (2020) | 85.6% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Luxembourg | 65 (2023) | 84.8% (2024) | 85.7% |
| Poland | — | 90.7% (2024) | 91.6% |
| Iceland | — | 90.4% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Czechia | — | 90.1% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Netherlands | — | 90.1% (2024) | 90.6% |
| Slovakia | — | 87.9% (2024) | 90.5% |
| Belgium | — | 86.6% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Croatia | — | 85.1% (2024) | 89.7% |
| Lithuania | — | 84.4% (2024) | 90.4% |
| France | — | 83.2% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Greece | — | 80.5% (2024) | 82.3% |
| Peru | — | 80.1% (2024) | 81.7% |
| Spain | — | 77.3% (2024) | 83.9% |
| Italy | — | 75.2% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Ireland | — | 72.1% (2021) | 86.9% |
| Hungary | — | 71.4% (2024) | 76.2% |
| Türkiye | — | 66.5% (2016) | 72.9% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone. Where a country publishes only broad fields, we use “Arts and humanities”.
Graduate earnings in the UK
The UK government links tax records to university records to measure what graduates earn. These figures are for “Music” first-degree graduates who were employed in the 2023–24 tax year.
| Time since graduating | Median | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | In work or study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | £19,000 | £12,800 | £24,200 | 86.2% |
| After 3 years | £23,500 | £16,400 | £29,300 | 87.0% |
| After 5 years | £25,600 | £18,100 | £32,600 | 86.5% |
| After 10 years | £31,300 | £21,200 | £42,500 | 87.7% |
Source: UK Department for Education, Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO), tax year 2023–24. Earnings are annual and include only graduates in sustained employment.
Is a music degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You already play an instrument or sing to a good standard and practise regularly.
- You enjoy both creating music and thinking about how and why it works.
- You are happy to build a career from several different kinds of work.
Think twice if
- You need a steady, predictable income soon after graduating, as many music careers are freelance.
- You dislike being judged often, which happens through auditions, assessments and performances.
- You want to study only one style of music, as many programmes cover theory, history and different traditions.
Further study
Performers and composers often take a master's degree or advanced diploma at a conservatoire to develop their skills and build professional contacts. Many graduates train as teachers, which in many countries means a postgraduate teaching qualification. Music therapy needs specialist training, often at master's level, and registration in countries where the profession is regulated. A PhD leads to research and university teaching in musicology or composition.
Questions about studying music
What jobs can you get with a music degree?
Graduates work as performers, composers, music producers, sound engineers and private music teachers. Many become secondary or primary school teachers after a teaching qualification. Others work as event managers, arts administrators, writers or music journalists, or in marketing, media and education. Music careers often combine several jobs, especially in the early years.
Do you need to play an instrument to study music?
For most music degrees, yes. Performance and conservatoire programmes require an audition on an instrument or voice, and many university programmes expect a good standard of playing and some knowledge of music theory. Music technology and music business programmes may have different requirements, so check each course carefully.
Is a music degree worth it?
It depends on your goals. A music degree gives you intensive training, contacts and time to develop, which is valuable if you are committed to a career in music. However, many music jobs are freelance or part-time, and income can be uneven, especially at the start. Graduates who combine performing with teaching, technology or business skills often have more options.
What is the difference between a conservatoire and a university music degree?
A conservatoire, also called a music academy or conservatory, focuses on intensive training in performance or composition, with a lot of one-to-one teaching. A university music degree usually includes more academic study, such as music history, analysis and research, alongside practical work. Both can lead to professional careers, and the right choice depends on how much you want to focus on performance.
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English literature
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Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UK Department for Education — Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO) — CAH CAH25-02-02 — Music
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 0215
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with a music degree? Jobs and salaries. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/music/ (accessed September 26, 2026)