by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Music Technology involves the study of Music Technology. A Program That Focuses On The Creative Aspects Of The Blending Of Music And Technology; And That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To The Composition, Recording, Synthesis, And Performance Of Music; Audio-Visual Production; Scoring For Film And Multimedia; And Software And Multimedia Development. Includes Instruction In Music Theory, Music History, Composition, Acoustics, Recording Technology, Computer Composition, Electronic Music Synthesis, Technology-Based Performance, 3d Sound And Spatial Audio, And Music Business And Law. Read on to learn the important information every music technology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering music technology programs.
Nationwide, music technology is a widely-pursued major, with 1,938 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Music Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 120 schools to determine the best overall colleges for music technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of music technology programs later in this article.
Programs in Music Technology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations music technology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a music technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a music technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several music technology 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 60 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 526 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,022 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 330 |
People currently working in careers related to music technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 37.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 23.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 16.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.1% |
| Some college courses | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in music technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in music technology opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to music technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to music technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Disc Jockeys, Except Radio | 386,017 | -3.0% |
| Sound Engineering Technicians | 294,018 | -0.5% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 180,947 | 6.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of music technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 music technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers music technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Disc Jockeys, Except Radio | $87,328 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $66,915 |
| Sound Engineering Technicians | $66,427 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 120 different music technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased music technology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in music technology, 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 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 |
| Conducting | 180 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
