Composer and music director are among the fastest growing professions in the United States, according to a report by USA Today. The professions (which are, confusingly, treated as one profession in the report) are the third fastest growing, after service unit operators for natural resources extraction and petrolium engineers. Other fast-expanding professions include interpreters and translators, massage therapists, and skin-care specialists.

The number of composers and music directors in the USA grew by 178% over ten years, said the report. That works out as an increase of 15,960 people working in the profession, leading to a total of 24,940 employed as music direcotrs and composers. The median annual pay in the profession was $47,350, with the lowest earning 10% earning less than $21,450 in a year, and the highest earning 10% earning more than $86,100.

Perhaps of surprise to many working in the field, composers and musical directors fare better than most of the other listed professions in terms of median annual income. Of the top ten fastest growing professions, composers and musical directors earned over twice as much as personal care aides, and roughly a similar amount to interpreters and translators, and human resource specialists.

The report suggest that an increase in ‘Americans’ thirst for music’ is responsible for the surge in people working in the profession of composer or musical director. ‘Another factor driving job growth for this occupation is the expected greater need for original music scores or transcriptions used in commercials and movies,’ said the report. ‘In addition to musical talent and mastery of a variety of instruments, those in this occupation, especially the ones writing and conducting classical music, usually have a bachelor’s degree.’