by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Music Education covers Music Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Music And Music Appreciation Programs At Various Educational Levels. Read on to learn the key facts every music education major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering music education programs.
Nationwide, music education is a popular field of study, with 4,544 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Music Education Schools ranking analyzes these 463 schools to determine the best overall colleges for music education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of music education programs later in this article.
Studies in Music Education develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations music education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a music education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a music education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several music education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 28 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,257 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,174 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 85 |
People currently working in careers related to music education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 43.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.7% |
| Master’s degree | 18.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.0% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in music education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in music education prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to music education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to music education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of music education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,919 |
| 4 years | $50,204 |
| 5 years | $56,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for music education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers music education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 463 different music education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased music education school rankings to help you.
Those considering music education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 6,964 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 5,986 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 3,018 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,352 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 1,963 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,860 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,472 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
| Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education | 1,022 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
