Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Scheduling Work and Activities Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
• Direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance dynamics, rhythm, and tempo.
• Study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations.
• Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
• Consider such factors as ensemble sise and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, to select music to be performed.
• Determine voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos, and tone balances required to achieve the effects desired in a musical composition.
• Experiment with different sounds, and types and pieces of music, using synthesisers and computers as necessary to test and evaluate ideas.
• Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.
• Audition and select performers for musical presentations.
• Plan and schedule rehearsals and performances, and arrange details such as locations, accompanists, and instrumentalists.

Further Information

• Composer (Music) - from: GradIreland
• Composer (Music) - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Training & Development Pathways

Training can also help you progress, depending if you plan to go into Teaching & lecturing, Music for performance, or Music for media or marketing. 

FET Centre Traineeship: Digital Media, Broadcast production, Group Facilitation/ Training in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Music performance, music production, sound engineering, music technology at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: There are no music Apprenticeships at present, but more are in development Search Apprenticeships 

Higher Education CAO Entry: Arts - Music, Arts - Music Technology, Audio and Music Production, 
Music, Music Technology & Production at NFQ Levels 6-8 Search CAO courses

Postgraduate: Masters & Doctoral study Options Arts- Music, Education- Further education Teaching, Music composition, Music at NFQ level 8-10

Last Updated: November, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €17k - €80k

Salaries vary by employer, role, duties, location, and experience. Salary will depend if in music production or teaching. Earnings on royalites vary in line with project & contract. 

Data Source(s):
Gov.ie/ ETBI / ILDN (partnerships)/ IMRO / TUI / Eirieri/ Payscale

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2025).

Employment growth was below average for this occupation; having peaked at 36,000 in 2022, levels have declined annually since. The CSO Labour Force Survey does not allow for a detailed breakdown of job titles within this occupation, but Census 2022 showed that over a quarter were graphic designers, with other key roles including actors, authors/writers, photographers, artists and arts officers.

Employment permits issued in 2024 were for roles including actors, directors, producers, animators, graphic designers, linguists (ICT), dancers, and costume/set designers. Online job adverts (Eurostat/CEDEFOP) related mainly to jobs for authors, journalists & translators; although small in number, green skills mentioned in ads for journalists is most likely linked to the green economy to inform and generate awareness.

Overall, the data does not point to any significant issues in sourcing skills for this occupation.

• Musicians' Union of Ireland

  • Click Here

• IMRO Irish Music Rights Organization

  • Lower Baggot St, Dublin 2, Ireland, D02 HW59
  • 01 661 4844
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here