How To Become An Instrumentalist: What It Is and Career Path

What is an instrumentalist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted Expert

Gloria Lum

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an instrumentalist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $25.88 an hour? That's $53,834 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 4% and produce 6,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to an Instrumentalist?

Gloria Lum

Cello Instructor, Occidental College

Music has changed drastically in the past year due to the pandemic. Because it has not been possible to perform in person in front of groups, many musicians have learned how to use the online space to perform and teach. A recent graduate in the field of music also needs to understand how to operate their own business in the sense that they will most probably have a career that will consist of a combination of performing in some group or solo, teaching at a school or privately, and the willingness to do other jobs to help them round out their career.

ScoreInstrumentalistUS Average

Salary

Avg. Salary $53,834

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.18%

Asian 5.61%

Black or African American 9.74%

Hispanic or Latino 13.51%

Unknown 5.13%

White 65.84%

Gender

female 26.19%

male 73.81%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Key steps to become an instrumentalist

Explore instrumentalist education requirements

Most common instrumentalist degrees

Bachelor's

49.1 %

Associate

22.8 %

Master's

10.5 %

Research instrumentalist duties and responsibilities

Achieve desired tonal and harmonic balance by communicating clearly with singers.
Play the accompaniment for the production of Annie (Jan )
Founder of various alternative rock groups-Multiple publish works-Regularly gain experience in songwriting, management, production, marketing, video and design
Achieve desired tonal and harmonic balance by communicating clearly with singers.

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