by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Woodwind Instruments explores Woodwind Instruments. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Master A Woodwind Instrument And Performing Art As Solo, Ensemble, And/or Accompanist Performers. Includes Instruction In Playing And Personal Style Development. Examples: [Flute], [Oboe], [Clarinet], [Bassoon], [Saxophone]. Read on to learn the key facts every woodwind instruments major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering woodwind instruments programs.
Across the country, woodwind instruments draws strong interest, with 158 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Woodwind Instruments Schools ranking analyzes these 15 schools to determine the best overall colleges for woodwind instruments students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of woodwind instruments programs later in this article.
Coursework for Woodwind Instruments emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations woodwind instruments graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a woodwind instruments program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a woodwind instruments major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several woodwind 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 48 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 105 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to woodwind 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 woodwind instruments careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in woodwind instruments prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to woodwind instruments.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to woodwind instruments.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Musicians and Singers | 44,568 | 7.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of woodwind instruments graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 woodwind instruments graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers woodwind instruments grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 15 different woodwind instruments programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased woodwind instruments school rankings to help you.
Students interested in woodwind 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.
