by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 53 U.S. colleges awarded 159 degrees and certificates in Conducting. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 79% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $29,221 one year after completing, rising to $45,008 after four years.
A major in Conducting covers Conducting. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Master The Art Of Leading Bands, Choirs, Orchestras And Other Ensembles In Performance, And Related Music Leadership. Includes Instruction In Score Analysis And Arranging, Rehearsal And Performance Leadership, Music Coaching, Arrangement And Performance Planning, Ensemble Operations Management, And Applications To Specific School Or Professional Ensembles.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, conducting is a widely-pursued major, with 159 degrees awarded annually. 53 colleges award conducting degrees, an average of 3 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 9.
By level, the 159 awards include 126 master’s degrees and 33 doctorates.
Women earned 38% of conducting degrees and certificates in the latest year (60 of 159). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (90) and Hispanic or Latino (19), and international students earned 24.
The most common conducting credential is the master’s degree: 126 of the 159 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to conducting call most for Speaking, Instructing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, Education and Training and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a conducting degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 126 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 33 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to conducting, at 47.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 47.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| Some college courses | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Conducting, with an average median salary of $56,949; the strongest outlook belongs to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Makeup Artistry Instructor, Music Professor, Adjunct Graphic Design Instructor and Performing Arts Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to conducting, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 180,947 | 6.4% |
Conducting graduates earn a median $29,221 one year after completing their program, $45,008 after four years and $40,994 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $29,221 |
| 4 years | $45,008 |
| 5 years | $40,994 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to conducting is Music Directors and Composers, with a median salary of $66,915.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Music Directors and Composers | $66,915 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Conducting has 16 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 26,110 degrees a year; the largest are Music, General (10,882), Music Performance, General (7,138) and Music Technology (2,097). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music, General | 10,882 |
| Music Performance, General | 7,138 |
| Music Technology | 2,097 |
| Music Theory and Composition | 1,337 |
| Music, Other | 1,235 |
| Voice and Opera | 651 |
| Jazz/Jazz Studies | 598 |
| Stringed Instruments | 585 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 536 |
| Music Pedagogy | 402 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.