Composers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Composers write new and rearrange existing musical compositions such as songs, operas, symphonies, musical scores, and advertising jingles.
Specialisations: Music Arranger, Songwriter.
A formal qualification in music and a high level of musicianship is usually needed to work as a Composer. University and Vocational Education and Training (VET) are both common study pathways.
Tasks
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Creates melodic, harmonic and rhythmic structures to express ideas and emotions in musical form.
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Translates ideas and concepts into standard musical signs and symbols for reproduction and performance.
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Undertakes research and liaises with clients when composing musical backing for television commercials, popular recordings, and productions across radio, television and film.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Creative
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Sedentary
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Music Professionals, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 63% of people employed as Composers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is similar to the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 48 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Composers work in the Arts and recreation services industry. They are also employed in industries like:
- Information media and telecommunications
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Education and training.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Composers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 51.2 | 31.6 |
VIC | 31.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 9.0 | 20.0 |
SA | 4.0 | 7.0 |
WA | 3.0 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.7 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.0 | 1.9 |
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Around 87% of Composers live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales and Victoria have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Composers is 42 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.
Females make up 15% of the workforce. This is 33 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Composers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 5.6 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 21.5 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 31.8 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 18.2 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 8.3 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 7.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 7.3 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 42 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
A formal qualification in music and a high level of musicianship is usually needed to work as a Composer. University and Vocational Education and Training (VET) are both common study pathways.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Creative Arts and Culture VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Composers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 19.4 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 39.1 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 13.1 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 4.2 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 20.1 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 4.2 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Music Professionals who have strong interpersonal skills, can communicate well with diverse audiences and work independently.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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54%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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52%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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50%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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48%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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48%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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46%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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45%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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43%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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41%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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39%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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39%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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39%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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37%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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36%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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34%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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34%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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34%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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32%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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32%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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85%
Fine artsCompose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
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77%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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65%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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63%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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55%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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54%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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52%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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52%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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48%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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43%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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39%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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37%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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35%
Philosophy and theologyPhilosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.
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30%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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28%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
27%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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27%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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26%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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16%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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15%
History and archeologyEvents of the past, their causes, how we learn about them, and how they influence the way we live today.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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71%
Hearing sensitivityTell the difference between sounds.
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57%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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57%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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55%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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55%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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52%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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50%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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50%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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48%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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48%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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48%
Auditory attentionPay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
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46%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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46%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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46%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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45%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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43%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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43%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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41%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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41%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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32%
MemorizationRemember things like words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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92%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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78%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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73%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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72%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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71%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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71%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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68%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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68%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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66%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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62%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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61%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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60%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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58%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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58%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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56%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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55%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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55%
Influencing peopleConvincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.
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50%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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42%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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42%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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95%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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52%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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38%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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33%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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29%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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29%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
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95%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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81%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
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81%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
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64%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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52%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
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43%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
Demands
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97%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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95%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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94%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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94%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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90%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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89%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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86%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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85%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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84%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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83%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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80%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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79%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
79%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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77%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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73%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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69%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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60%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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60%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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57%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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52%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 27-2041.04 - Music Composers and Arrangers.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.