by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 14 U.S. colleges awarded 41 degrees and certificates in Percussion Instruments. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $29,221 one year after completing, rising to $45,008 after four years.
Studying Percussion Instruments covers Percussion Instruments. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Master Percussion Instruments And Performing Art For A Variety Of Musical Settings, Including Orchestral, Solo, Chamber, Commercial, Or Nontraditional. Includes Instruction In Playing And Personal Style Development. Examples: [Bass Drum], [Snare Drum], [Timpani], [Vibraphone].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, percussion instruments is a popular field of study, with 41 degrees awarded annually. 14 colleges award percussion instruments degrees, an average of 3 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 8.
By level, the 41 awards include 1 associate degrees, 17 bachelor’s degrees, 22 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 15% of percussion instruments degrees and certificates in the latest year (6 of 41). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (20) and Hispanic or Latino (5), and international students earned 7.
The most common percussion instruments credential is the master’s degree: 22 of the 41 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to percussion instruments call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, 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 percussion instruments degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 17 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 22 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to percussion instruments, at 49.3%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Percussion Instruments, with an average median salary of $71,777; the strongest outlook belongs to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Drama Teacher, Elementary Art Instructor, Dance Professor and Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to percussion instruments, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Musicians and Singers | 44,568 | 7.2% |
Percussion Instruments 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 percussion instruments is Musicians and Singers, with a median salary of $96,571.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Percussion Instruments has 16 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 26,228 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.