by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Percussion Instruments covers Percussion Instruments. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Master Percussion Instruments And Performing Art For A Variety Of Musical Settings, Including Orchestral, Solo, Chamber, Commercial, Or Nontraditional. Includes Instruction In Playing And Personal Style Development. Examples: [Bass Drum], [Snare Drum], [Timpani], [Vibraphone]. Continue reading for the important information every percussion instruments major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering percussion instruments programs.
Nationwide, percussion instruments is a popular field of study, with 35 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Percussion Instruments Schools ranking analyzes these 9 schools to determine the best overall colleges for percussion instruments students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of percussion instruments programs later in this article.
Programs in Percussion Instruments develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations percussion instruments graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a percussion instruments program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a percussion instruments major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several percussion instruments 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 | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 15 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 18 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
People currently working in careers related to percussion instruments tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 49.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in percussion instruments careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in percussion instruments prepares you for a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to percussion instruments.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to percussion instruments.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Musicians and Singers | 44,568 | 7.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of percussion instruments 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 percussion instruments graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers percussion instruments grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 9 different percussion instruments programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased percussion instruments school rankings to help you.
Those considering percussion instruments, 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.
