Musical Groups and Artists — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the musical groups and artists industry earns $100,879 per year ($48.50/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$100,879
Avg Annual Pay
36,563
Total Employees
5,907
Total Establishments
6
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Musical Groups and Artists Workers Earn?

At $100,879/year (equivalent to $48.50/hour for a full-time worker), musical groups and artists wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.

Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.

The typical musical groups and artists business employs 6 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

79.6%

For the average musical groups and artists business generating $760K/year with 6 employees at $100,879 each, total payroll represents roughly 79.6% of revenue. This is a labor-intensive industry — payroll is the dominant expense.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a musical groups and artistsbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $131,143/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 6 employees = ~$605,274/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $48.50/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $760K/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Musical Groups and Artists revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do musical groups and artists employees make?
The average musical groups and artists employee earns $100,879 per year, which is equivalent to $48.50/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the musical groups and artists industry?
The musical groups and artists industry employs 36,563 workers across 5,907 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 6 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).