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Musician

Also called oboist, drummer, violist

Musicians perform a vocal or musical part that can be recorded or played for an audience. They have know-how and practice of one or many instruments or using their voice. The musician can also write and transcribe music.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects33 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Legal, social and cultural professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €1,800 (Bulgaria) to €8,800 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Legal, social and cultural professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Legal, social and cultural professionalsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Musicians, singers and composers · ILO

What you'd do

Musicians, singers and composers · ILO
  • Creating melodic, harmonic and rhythmic structures to express ideas and emotions in musical form
  • Translating ideas and concepts into standard musical signs and symbols for reproduction and performance
  • Adapting or arranging music for particular instrumental or vocal groups, instruments or occasions
  • Conducting instrumental or vocal groups
  • Selecting music for performances and assigning instrumental parts to musicians
  • Playing one or more musical instruments as a soloist or as a member of an orchestra or a musical group
  • Singing as soloists or members of vocal groups or other bands
  • Practising and rehearsing to maintain a high standard of performance
Follow time cuesAnalyse own performanceStudy roles from scriptsInteract with an audienceInteract with fellow actors+ 10 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually under 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Musicians and Singers"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as legal, social and cultural professionals in the EU
5.41m6.54m7.02m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
354,000 new jobs 1,872,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Legal, social and cultural professionals33
All jobs29
Right now
3 of 27 countries report a shortage of musicians, singers and composers, 8 a surplus.
Musicians, singers and composers · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,800 a month (Bulgaria) to €8,800 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in music and performing arts is the usual route.

Highest qualification of legal, social and cultural professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 87%Vocational 6%General secondary 5%Basic schooling 2%
Field that teaches it
Music and performing arts
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Arts and humanities graduates in a matching job
52% in the EU

1,154 institutions in the EU offer arts and humanities bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.28 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Translating ideas and concepts into standard musical signs and symbols for reproduction and performance0.43
Adapting or arranging music for particular instrumental or vocal groups, instruments or occasions0.35
Selecting music for performances and assigning instrumental parts to musicians0.35
Conducting instrumental or vocal groups0.27
Practising and rehearsing to maintain a high standard of performance0.26
Singing as soloists or members of vocal groups or other bands0.24
Creating melodic, harmonic and rhythmic structures to express ideas and emotions in musical form0.22
Playing one or more musical instruments as a soloist or as a member of an orchestra or a musical group0.13

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for musicians, singers and composers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).