by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Conducting covers Conducting. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Master The Art Of Leading Bands, Choirs, Orchestras And Other Ensembles In Performance, And Related Music Leadership. Includes Instruction In Score Analysis And Arranging, Rehearsal And Performance Leadership, Music Coaching, Arrangement And Performance Planning, Ensemble Operations Management, And Applications To Specific School Or Professional Ensembles. Read on to learn the essential details every conducting student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering conducting programs.
Across the country, conducting is a widely-pursued major, with 180 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Conducting Schools ranking analyzes these 54 schools to determine the best overall colleges for conducting students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of conducting programs later in this article.
Coursework for Conducting develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations conducting graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a conducting program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a conducting major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several conducting 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 129 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 47 |
People currently working in careers related to conducting tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 47.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Some college courses | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in conducting careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying conducting prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to conducting.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to conducting.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 180,947 | 6.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of conducting graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,248 |
| 4 years | $35,586 |
| 5 years | $40,828 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for conducting graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers conducting grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Music Directors and Composers | $66,915 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 54 different conducting programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased conducting school rankings to help you.
Those considering conducting, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music, General | 10,690 |
| Music Performance, General | 7,193 |
| Music Technology | 1,938 |
| Music Theory and Composition | 1,336 |
| Music, Other | 1,141 |
| Voice and Opera | 668 |
| Stringed Instruments | 589 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 534 |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 523 |
| Music Pedagogy | 385 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
