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Music Technology - B.S.

Explore the intersection of music and technology with the Music Technology B.S. program. Gain the skills needed to innovate at the intersection of music and technology and create cutting-edge music compositions. Enroll now and become a music tech pioneer.

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College of the Arts
School of Music
www.kent.edu/music

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Bachelor’s Degree in Music Technology – B.S.

AVAILABLE ONLY AT THE KENT STATE UNIVERSITY STARK CAMPUS.

This degree concentrates on courses in music production and audio recording using industry-standard technology. Students take classes and work in five on-campus recording and music production facilities, as well as at Kopperhead recording studio in North Canton. The development of strong musicianship is also an important aspect of the curriculum. Students are required to study instrumental or vocal performance, music theory, and music history, including world music, to provide a well-rounded education in preparation for successful careers in the music industry.

The program is enhanced by educational partnerships with leading music software companies including McDSP, maker of professional grade audio plug-ins, and Rational Acoustics, maker of the industry-standard Smaart® software for real-time sound measurement in acoustic applications.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MUSIC TECHNOLOGY, PLEASE CONTACT:

Cindy Deng
Admissions Counselor
cdeng@kent.edu | 330-244-3238

Program Information for Music Technology - B.S.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Music Technology prepares students as musicians within a broad field of constantly changing technology. Students study in courses that develop expertise in music computer technology for application in the recording industry, audio-engineering and music production.

The development of music technology has had an enormous impact on the music industry. There are many career opportunities for talented musicians in music technology. Skilled musicians can apply formal training to recording careers, studio performance, arranging or producing and live performances. Opportunities are also available in non-traditional, contemporary popular music venues, the movie industry, television, multi-media events and music for advertising, as well as traditional performing arts venues. The growth of music technology has made knowledge and experience in this area a necessity for all students preparing for a career in any area of the music industry. To compete effectively in the contemporary music world, one must possess a strong traditional music background, plus the technical expertise required to make the most of a rapidly changing and developing technology.

The Music Technology major comprises the following concentrations:

  • The Audio Recording concentration provides students the opportunity to learn advanced audio recording techniques.
  • The Music Production concentration provides students the opportunity to learn how to use technology to realize creative work such as original music, arranging and production.
  • The Performance concentration provides students who want to perform the necessary technological tools to succeed in the modern music industry.
Admissions for Music Technology - B.S.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Admission to this major is selective. To be admitted to the Music Technology major, students audition their primary instrument and/or with a portfolio and complete theory and keyboard placement tests.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Function as competent and versatile professional studio musicians who perform in diverse commercial music venues.
  2. Compose and arrange music.
  3. Create appropriate sound for visual media.
  4. Create music productions of professional quality.
  5. Produce professional audio recordings, both live and in studio, from start to finish.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C grade required in all courses)
MUS 11121THEORY I 4
MUS 11122THEORY II 4
MUS 21113MUSIC PRODUCTION I 3
MUS 21114MUSIC PRODUCTION II 3
MUS 21221AUDIO RECORDING I 3
MUS 21222AUDIO RECORDING II 3
MUS 21341CONTEMPORARY POPULAR MUSIC THEORY 3
MUS 22111UNDERSTANDING WESTERN MUSIC (KFA) 3
MUS 22121MUSIC AS A WORLD PHENOMENON (DIVG) (KFA) 3
MUS 32211WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY I 3
or MUS 42131 MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES
or MUS 42161 HISTORY OF JAZZ (DIVD)
MUS 32230NAVIGATING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY 3
MUS 40092MUSIC TECHNOLOGY INTERNSHIP (ELR) 2
MUS 42165HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY POPULAR MUSIC (DIVD) (WIC) 13
Music (MUS) Elective3
Major Ensemble, choose from the following: 28
MUS 45141
KENT STATE UNIVERSITY CHORALE
MUS 45142
CORO CANTARE
MUS 45143
CANTIQUE
MUS 45212
ORCHESTRA
MUS 45221
SYMPHONY BAND
MUS 45223
WIND ENSEMBLE
Applied Studio Musicianship, choose from the following: 38
MUS 36913
APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP 4
MUS 36914
ELECTRIC GUITAR APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36915
ELECTRIC BASS APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36916
DRUM SET PERCUSSION APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36917
KEYBOARD APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36918
CONTEMPORARY VOICE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36919
FLUTE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36920
CLARINET APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36921
SAXOPHONE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36922
TRUMPET APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36923
HORN APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36924
TROMBONE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
Piano Class or Applied Music Piano, choose from the following: 52
MUS 17111
PIANO CLASS I
MUS 17112
PIANO CLASS II
MUS 27111
PIANO CLASS III
MUS 27112
PIANO CLASS IV
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
BUS 10123EXPLORING BUSINESS 3
or ENTR 27056 INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
or MGMT 24163 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT
CS 10051COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES (KMCR) 4
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
6
3
6
6-7
6
General Elective (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credits hour, including 39 upper-division credit hours)1
Concentrations23
Choose from the following:
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

Major ensemble (eight separate semesters): All music technology majors must enroll in an ensemble appropriate to their major performance area. Two credit hours must be taken in major ensemble. Major ensemble credit can be earned for MUS 25011 and MUS 25225, as approved by faculty. Students may choose to complete the remaining 6 credit hours with MUS 35213, or 4 credit hours with MUS 35213 or major ensemble and 2 credit hours with ensemble electives (such as MUS 25311 and MUS 45231 for students whose instrument is guitar) as approved by faculty.

3

Applied studio musicianship (four semesters and 8 credit hours): Students must meet the Sophomore Proficiency requirement after two semesters and the Senior Proficiency requirement for graduation.

4

Students register for MUS 36913 for all other popular music instruments not listed.

5

Students who have completed the Applied Studio Musicianship and Applied Music requirement on piano may replace requirement with Music (MUS) electives.

Audio Recording Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C grade required in all courses)
MUS 31221AUDIO RECORDING III 3
MUS 31222AUDIO RECORDING IV 3
MUS 41181ACOUSTICS AND TECHNOLOGY IN MUSIC 2
MUS 41221AUDIO RECORDING V 3
MUS 41222AUDIO RECORDING VI 3
MUS 41240AUDIO ELECTRONICS I 3
MUS 41250LIVE SOUND PRODUCTION 2
Applied Studio Musicianship, choose from the following: 1,24
MUS 36913
APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36914
ELECTRIC GUITAR APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36915
ELECTRIC BASS APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36916
DRUM SET PERCUSSION APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36917
KEYBOARD APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36918
CONTEMPORARY VOICE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36919
FLUTE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36920
CLARINET APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36921
SAXOPHONE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36922
TRUMPET APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36923
HORN APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36924
TROMBONE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
Minimum Total Credit Hours:23
1

Applied studio musicianship (four semesters and 8 credit hours): Students must pass the Sophomore Proficiency Threshold after two semesters and the Senior Proficiency Threshold for graduation.

2

Students who choose to complete more than one concentration may apply Applied Studio Musicianship hours toward all concentrations.

Music Production Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C grade required in all courses)
MUS 21213CLASS COMPOSITION I 2
MUS 21214CLASS COMPOSITION II 2
MUS 31113MUSIC PRODUCTION III 3
MUS 31114MUSIC PRODUCTION IV 3
MUS 41113MUSIC PRODUCTION V 3
MUS 41114MUSIC PRODUCTION VI 3
MUS 41181ACOUSTICS AND TECHNOLOGY IN MUSIC 2
MUS 41255MUSIC PRODUCTION SEMINAR 1
Applied Studio Musicianship, choose from the following: 1,24
MUS 36913
APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36914
ELECTRIC GUITAR APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36915
ELECTRIC BASS APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36916
DRUM SET PERCUSSION APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36917
KEYBOARD APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36918
CONTEMPORARY VOICE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36919
FLUTE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36920
CLARINET APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36921
SAXOPHONE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36922
TRUMPET APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36923
HORN APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36924
TROMBONE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
Minimum Total Credit Hours:23
1

Applied studio musicianship (four semesters and 8 credit hours): Students must pass the Sophomore Proficiency Threshold after two semesters and the Senior Proficiency Threshold for graduation.

2

Students who choose to complete more than one concentration may apply Applied Studio Musicianship hours toward all concentrations.

Performance Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) (min C grade required in all courses)
MUS 41250LIVE SOUND PRODUCTION 2
Applied Studio Musicianship, choose from the following: 1,216
MUS 36913
APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36914
ELECTRIC GUITAR APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36915
ELECTRIC BASS APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36916
DRUM SET PERCUSSION APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36917
KEYBOARD APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36918
CONTEMPORARY VOICE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36919
FLUTE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36920
CLARINET APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36921
SAXOPHONE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36922
TRUMPET APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36923
HORN APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
MUS 36924
TROMBONE APPLIED STUDIO MUSICIANSHIP
Concentration Electives, choose from the following: 5
MUS 20295
SPECIAL TOPICS IN MUSIC 3
MUS 31113
MUSIC PRODUCTION III
MUS 31114
MUSIC PRODUCTION IV
MUS 31221
AUDIO RECORDING III
MUS 31222
AUDIO RECORDING IV
MUS 31230
GUITAR TECHNOLOGY
MUS 31260
VOCAL PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUES
MUS 41341
JAZZ IMPROVISATION I
Minimum Total Credit Hours:23
1

Students must take four semesters of 4 credit hours of Applied Studio Musicianship courses. Students must meet the Senior ASM Proficiency Threshold and complete one full senior recital and register for applied music courses during a degree recital semester.

2

Students who choose to complete more than one concentration may apply Applied Studio Musicianship hours toward all concentrations.

3

Integrated study and special topic courses may be applied toward concentration electives with approval.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.250 2.000
  • Minimum C grade required in all music (MUS) courses
  • Minimum eight semesters of major ensemble courses and six semesters of applied studio musicianship and applied music courses. Applied music courses are available during the summer on selected instruments. Composition may also be taken during the summer.
  • Attendance at minimum 84 concerts or recitals for students who begin the program as first-semester freshmen (students who transferred from a non-music program or university must attend an average of 10 music concerts or recitals for semesters of full-time enrollment)
  • Students pursuing the Audio Recording and Music Production concentration simultaneously can take the Audio Recording and Music Production III, IV, V, and VI classes concurrently.
Roadmaps

Roadmaps

Audio Recording Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
CS 10051 COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES (KMCR) 4
!MUS 11121 THEORY I 4
!MUS 21113 MUSIC PRODUCTION I 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
!Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
!Piano Class or Applied Music Piano 1-2
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
MUS 11122 THEORY II 4
MUS 21221 AUDIO RECORDING I 3
Applied Studio Musicianship 2
Major Ensemble 1
Piano Class or Applied Music Piano 0-1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Three
MUS 21222 AUDIO RECORDING II 3
MUS 21341 CONTEMPORARY POPULAR MUSIC THEORY 3
MUS 22111 UNDERSTANDING WESTERN MUSIC (KFA) 3
Applied Studio Musicianship 2
Major Ensemble 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
!MUS 21114 MUSIC PRODUCTION II 3
MUS 22121 MUSIC AS A WORLD PHENOMENON (DIVG) (KFA) 3
MUS 32230 NAVIGATING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY 3
!Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
!MUS 31221 AUDIO RECORDING III 3
!MUS 32211
or MUS 42131
or MUS 42161
WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY I
or MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES
or HISTORY OF JAZZ (DIVD)
3
MUS 41250 LIVE SOUND PRODUCTION 2
Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Six
!MUS 31222 AUDIO RECORDING IV 3
!MUS 41181 ACOUSTICS AND TECHNOLOGY IN MUSIC 2
!MUS 41240 AUDIO ELECTRONICS I 3
!Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours17
Semester Seven
BUS 10123
or ENTR 27056
or MGMT 24163
EXPLORING BUSINESS
or INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
or PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT
3
MUS 41221 AUDIO RECORDING V 3
MUS 42165 HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY POPULAR MUSIC (DIVD) (WIC) 3
Major Ensemble 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Eight
!MUS 40092 MUSIC TECHNOLOGY INTERNSHIP (ELR) 2
!MUS 41222 AUDIO RECORDING VI 3
!Major Ensemble 1
Music (MUS) Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 1
 Credit Hours13
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Music Production Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!CS 10051 COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES (KMCR) 4
!MUS 11121 THEORY I 4
!MUS 21113 MUSIC PRODUCTION I 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
!Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
!Piano Class or Applied Music Piano 1-2
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
!MUS 11122 THEORY II 4
!MUS 21221 AUDIO RECORDING I 3
!Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
!Piano Class or Applied Music Piano 0-1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Three
!MUS 21222 AUDIO RECORDING II 3
!MUS 21341 CONTEMPORARY POPULAR MUSIC THEORY 3
MUS 22111 UNDERSTANDING WESTERN MUSIC (KFA) (music major section) 3
!Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
!MUS 21114 MUSIC PRODUCTION II 3
MUS 22121 MUSIC AS A WORLD PHENOMENON (DIVG) (KFA) (music major section) 3
MUS 32230 NAVIGATING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY 3
!Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
!MUS 21213 CLASS COMPOSITION I 2
!MUS 31113 MUSIC PRODUCTION III 3
!MUS 32211
or MUS 42131
or MUS 42161
WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY I
or MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES
or HISTORY OF JAZZ (DIVD)
3
!Applied Studio Musicianship 2
Major Ensemble 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Six
!MUS 21214 CLASS COMPOSITION II 2
!MUS 31114 MUSIC PRODUCTION IV 3
!MUS 41181 ACOUSTICS AND TECHNOLOGY IN MUSIC 2
!Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Seven
BUS 10123
or ENTR 27056
or MGMT 24163
EXPLORING BUSINESS
or INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
or PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT
3
!MUS 41113 MUSIC PRODUCTION V 3
!MUS 41255 MUSIC PRODUCTION SEMINAR 1
!MUS 42165 HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY POPULAR MUSIC (DIVD) (WIC) 3
!Major Ensemble 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours17
Semester Eight
!MUS 40092 MUSIC TECHNOLOGY INTERNSHIP (ELR) 2
!MUS 41114 MUSIC PRODUCTION VI 3
!Major Ensemble 1
Music (MUS) Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 1
 Credit Hours13
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Performance Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
CS 10051 COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES (KMCR) 4
!MUS 11121 THEORY I 4
!MUS 21113 MUSIC PRODUCTION I 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
!Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
!Piano Class or Applied Music Piano 1-2
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
!MUS 11122 THEORY II 4
MUS 21221 AUDIO RECORDING I 3
Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
!Piano Class or Applied Music Piano 0-1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Three
!MUS 21222 AUDIO RECORDING II 3
!MUS 21341 CONTEMPORARY POPULAR MUSIC THEORY 3
MUS 22111 UNDERSTANDING WESTERN MUSIC (KFA) 3
!Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
!MUS 21114 MUSIC PRODUCTION II 3
MUS 22121 MUSIC AS A WORLD PHENOMENON (DIVG) (KFA) 3
MUS 32230 NAVIGATING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY 3
!Applied Studio Musicianship 2
!Major Ensemble 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
!MUS 32211
or MUS 42131
or MUS 42161
WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY I
or MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES
or HISTORY OF JAZZ (DIVD)
3
MUS 41250 LIVE SOUND PRODUCTION 2
Applied Studio Musicianship 4
!Major Ensemble 1
Concentration Elective 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Six
Applied Studio Musicianship 4
!Major Ensemble 1
Concentration Elective 2
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours13
Semester Seven
BUS 10123
or ENTR 27056
or MGMT 24163
EXPLORING BUSINESS
or INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
or PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT
3
MUS 42165 HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY POPULAR MUSIC (DIVD) (WIC) 3
!Applied Studio Musicianship 4
!Major Ensemble 1
Concentration Elective 2
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Eight
MUS 40092 MUSIC TECHNOLOGY INTERNSHIP (ELR) 2
!Applied Studio Musicianship 4
!Major Ensemble 1
Music (MUS) Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 1
 Credit Hours17
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Stark Campus
Accreditation for Music Technology - B.S.

The B.S. degree in Music Technology is approved by the National Association of Schools of Music.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Music Technology - B.S.

Graduates of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Bachelor of Science in Music Technology are prepared for various careers in the music industry, including roles in management, consulting, and specialized fields.

Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

5.6%

faster than the average

116,300

number of jobs

$69,690

potential earnings

Music directors and composers

1.7%

slower than the average

58,000

number of jobs

$52,250

potential earnings

Sound engineering technicians

6.0%

faster than the average

15,800

number of jobs

$53,520

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.