Musicians and Singers
Play one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.
Also called: Choir Member · Chorister · Gospel Singer · Musician · Opera Singer · Orchestra Musician
Outlook 2024–34
+1.1%
~19,400 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1.1% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 19,400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Active Listening, Monitoring as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
Tailor your resume to Musicians and Singers
Honest tailoring
See how your resume lines up with Musicians and Singers
Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.
Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.
Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Perform before live audiences in concerts, recitals, educational presentations, and other social gatherings.
- Specialize in playing a specific family of instruments or a particular type of music.
- Play musical instruments as soloists, or as members or guest artists of musical groups such as orchestras, ensembles, or bands.
- Play from memory or by following scores.
- Listen to recordings to master pieces or to maintain and improve skills.
- Teach music for specific instruments.
- Provide the musical background for live shows, such as ballets, operas, musical theatre, and cabarets.
- Make or participate in recordings in music studios.
- Promote their own or their group's music by participating in media interviews and other activities.
- Sight-read musical parts during rehearsals.
Tools & technology
- SAP software
- Acoustica Mixcraft
- Apple GarageBand
- Appointment scheduling software
- Audacity
- Avid Technology Pro Tools
- Avid Technology Sibelius
- Blogging software
- Cantovation Sing & See
- Financial tracking software
- iZotope Ozone
- MakeMusic Finale
- Snapchat
- TUBA software
Knowledge areas
- Fine Arts
- English Language
- Foreign Language
- Education and Training
- Communications and Media
- Customer and Personal Service
- Philosophy and Theology
- Administration and Management