How Much Does a Music Producer Make?

With many forms of performance-based art, such as theater, film and music, the finished product is the result of several people's creative efforts. The writers create the foundation in a story or song; the performers lend their faces, voices, and artistic interpretations. In order for all these creative elements to come together, there has to be a guiding creative vision. In film and theater, this vision is usually provided by the director, but when it comes to music recording, the producer is the one pulling all the strings. In addition to coaching new talent, a music producer (also known as a recording engineer) also controls the way the sound is recorded and mixed. The finished product often bears an unmistakable trademark sound. With celebrity producers like Timbaland and Dr. Dre leaving their mark on the music scene with a mass of proteges in their wake, and rock stars like Trent Reznor and Jack White trying their hand at producing, music producer careers are more visible than ever. Aspiring producers all over the world are wondering: how much does a music producer make?

Music Producer Salary

The question "how much does a music producer make?" can't be answered with just one piece of data. A music producer career might go in many different directions, so a lot depends on the unique circumstances of the music producer's career. Using PayScale's music producer salary data, you can research music producer salary based on the factors that affect it most. For example, how much does a music producer make in different cities? Few people would be surprised to learn that the Music Producer Salary by City chart lists New York City as currently offering the highest median music producer salary. Drill down into Music Producer Salary by State, however, and you'll see that in addition to New York, a lucrative music producer career can also be had in Georgia or Illinois, both of which rank well for a music producer salary. Those who dream of single-handedly building their music producer career from the ground up may have the right idea; those who are self-employed earn the highest Music Producer Salary by Employer Type. How much does a music producer make after 15 years of experience? Research the chart to find out.

For an insider's look at a music producer career, read the Salary Story interview, "Music Producer Salary" over in the PayScale blogs section. Meghan Gohil, a music producer with over twenty years of experience in the business, describes the average music producer salary, offers advice on starting a music producer career and more.