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School & private studio
Music Teacher
School salary, or a private studio you build one student at a time.
Typical pay
$40k-$80k
How you get in
Music education degree and license for schools
Outlook
Varies by district; private studios are steady
Music teachers instruct in schools or run private studios. The school version is a licensed teaching job with benefits; the private studio version is a small business with far better hourly rates and no safety net.
A day in the life
- 7:30aSet up the room and instruments before first bell
- 8:15aElementary general music classes back to back
- 11:30aLunch and instrument repair
- 12:30pBand or choir rehearsal
- 3:30pPrivate lessons in your studio
- 7:00pConcert season means evenings and weekends
How to get in
Music education degree
Duration
4-5 years
Cost
$40,000-$180,000
Credential
State teaching license in music
- Complete a music education degree with performance requirements
- Learn secondary instruments — you will teach all of them
- Complete student teaching and pass licensure exams
- Apply to districts, where band and orchestra positions are hardest to fill
Private studio
Duration
1-3 years to fill
Cost
$500-$5,000
Credential
None — playing ability and results
- Build a reputation through performance and local networks
- Teach from home or rent space at a music store
- Charge by the month rather than per lesson to stabilize income
- Add group classes and recitals to increase revenue per hour
Performance degree plus teaching
Duration
4-6 years
Cost
$40,000-$180,000
Credential
Performance degree; add licensure or certification
- Complete a performance degree
- Add alternative teaching certification if you want school work
- Combine gigging, studio teaching and school positions
- The realistic financial model for most working musicians
What people love
- · Teach the thing you love every day
- · School positions come with benefits and pension
- · Private lessons pay well hourly
- · Combining school and studio work is common
What wears people down
- · Music programs are cut first in budget crises
- · Concert and festival season consumes evenings
- · Private studios are seasonal and churn constantly
- · You are also an instrument technician and event manager