What can you do with a Music Production degree?

First, some facts. Of the Music Production graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 52 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 53%, Music Production graduates have a much lower likelihood (-14%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 53%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 25% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Music Production graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Music Production graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2014 from Full Sail University with a Bachelor's degree in Music Production. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Worship Pastor
Church on the Rock Homer
Jan 2014 - Present
As a Worship Pastor, the role directly applies music production knowledge, including skills in audio engineering and sound design, essential for leading worship services effectively.

Company Owner
Denali North Events
Apr 2015 - Present
Being the Company Owner at Denali North Events likely involves utilizing music production skills for event planning and execution, strongly linking to the Bachelor's degree in Music Production.

ABOUT

I am a passionate professional who is motivated by excellence and driven to accomplish the impossible. I love working with others and accomplishing goals as a team. With years of management and leadership experience I am comfortable taking charge and developing a well thought out plan. However, I live by the motto that a good leader also knows how to follow. I enjoy working with other visionary people to set goals and to seek accomplishment together. I am passionate about communication. Whether resolving conflict in the work place, working with a client towards the completion of their project, or simply discussing options with a leadership team, I am driven to communicate clearly and considerately. I believe expectations in the work place should be out in the open so that everyone involve can be unified to succeed. I am relationally oriented and highly motivated by goals. Clear communication of expectations empowers me to pursue success in my field with confidence and excellence. I am not afraid to ask questions or to take on challenges beyond my current level of experience. I learn quickly and always strive to finish early, yet I refuse to sacrifice the expected quality. Having been self employed I naturally take ownership of every task I'm involved in and complete it as if it were my own. Being highly self motivated I strive to exceed expectations, always. I take pride in honesty above all things.My skills include:Team buildingManagementProblem solvingEmployee RelationsQuality controlCommunicationClient relationsProduct developmentNetworking

What jobs can you get with a Music Production degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When diving into the job market for graduates with a degree in Music Production, it's interesting to see the variety of roles they take on after finishing their studies. The most common job types among these graduates tend to be music producer roles, audio engineers, and positions related to either sound or music technology. A significant number also take on internships, especially early on in their careers, which can be a great way to build experience and connections in the industry.

As we analyze the relevance of these jobs to their degree, there seems to be a clear correlation. Many of the individuals who worked or interned in studios, taking on roles such as audio engineers, music producers, or sound designers directly validate the skills learned during their Music Production programs. These roles are systemically related to music technology, sound manipulation, and audio engineering, which are essential elements of their degrees. However, there are also numerous cases where people have veered off into unrelated jobs. Positions such as sales associates, event managers, and roles in logistics or general supervision often don't utilize the specific skills gained from a Music Production education.

Unfortunately, it's not all music-related for many graduates. In fact, while plenty of the roles are indeed relevant to the field, a substantial portion of graduates end up in positions where their degree doesn't play a significant role, leading to a disconnect between their education and employment. This indicates a trend where, despite having specialized training, some individuals find themselves in jobs that don’t align with their aspirations in the music industry. So, while there are promising pathways in music production, graduates must be proactive in seeking opportunities that truly reflect their training.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Music Production graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Music Production graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Analyzing the career trajectories of graduates with degrees in Music Production reveals a mixed bag of outcomes. Many of these individuals have indeed pursued careers closely associated with music and audio production, which is encouraging for those considering this educational path. However, there's also a notable number who have drifted into unrelated fields or jobs that don't fully utilize their music education. It’s important to emphasize that while some graduates have successfully carved out niches in the music industry, others appear to be pivoting into entirely different sectors.

Looking at the data, the initial post-graduation jobs for many graduates often include internships or assistant positions within music-related fields, like studio internships or roles as assistant audio engineers. This is typical as they often need to build experience and credibility in the industry, and internship roles are frequently seen as essential stepping stones. In the years following graduation—around the five or ten year mark—there’s a noticeable trend where some graduates have found stable positions as music producers, audio engineers, or even managing roles in recording studios and media companies. For instance, graduates who started with internships at recording studios transitioned into long-term roles as music producers or audio engineers. Others took entrepreneurial routes, launching their own production studios or music businesses, which indicates a level of ambition and entrepreneurial spirit. However, it's also evident that several graduates shifted to jobs that are either loosely related or entirely unrelated to music production after a few years in the industry.

Moreover, some graduates have taken roles in fields such as management, marketing, and even completely different sectors like education, tech, and customer service. For example, one graduate transitioned from audio engineering roles to becoming a fitness coach, while another went from being a music producer to a supervisor for a retail service like UPS. This diversification shows that while their degrees in Music Production might not have landed them in their ideal music careers, they still leverage skills such as creativity, teamwork, and project management in different industries. All in all, if you’re considering a degree in Music Production, it’s smart to be aware of this dual nature of career paths – there’s potential for success in music, but also a risk of straying into unrelated territories if opportunities in the music industry don't materialize quickly. Essentially, a Music Production degree can open doors, but those doors can lead in various directions.

How hard is a Music Production degree?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Music Production can be both challenging and pretty fun, depending on your background and dedication. If you’ve already got a good ear for music and some experience with technology, you might find the coursework to be more manageable. But don’t get me wrong—there's a lot to learn, from sound design and mixing to understanding music theory and the business side of things. It’s not necessarily harder than the average degree, but you definitely need to put in the time and effort to really grasp the concepts and develop your skills. If you’re passionate about music and willing to dive deep into the technical stuff, you’ll probably enjoy the process! Just be ready for some late nights in the studio or on your computer working on projects!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Music Production.

Do Music Production graduates tend to make good money?

Looking at these graduates from music production programs, it seems like the financial outcomes vary quite a bit depending on their specific paths. For instance, those who have pursued freelance opportunities and self-employment tend to have more variable income, which could mean they make a decent amount during high-demand projects but might also struggle during lean times. On the other hand, graduates who've landed stable roles in companies—like those working in audio engineering or as adjunct instructors—likely have a more consistent salary. Overall, it appears that some have definitely found their footing and could be making good money, while others might still be hustling to find stable income streams.

In general, music production can lead to lucrative careers, especially if one successfully navigates the industry, while some roles, like teaching or entry-level positions in music-related jobs, might not pay as much initially. So, it's kind of a mixed bag. Some of these graduates appear to be on a promising financial path, especially if they keep climbing that career ladder or building their networks in the industry. Others will need to work a bit harder or diversify their skills to ensure they find those higher-paying gigs and avoid the pitfalls of inconsistent work.

What buzzwords do Music Production graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Music Production. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Music Production?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Music Production (ordered by the average relevance score of their Music Production graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Full Sail University 53 34