Post job

Accompanist vs church organist

The differences between accompanists and church organists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an accompanist and a church organist. Additionally, an accompanist has an average salary of $52,645, which is higher than the $52,640 average annual salary of a church organist.

The top three skills for an accompanist include music theory, sight-read and piano performance. The most important skills for a church organist are worship services, easter, and chorus.

Accompanist vs church organist overview

AccompanistChurch Organist
Yearly salary$52,645$52,640
Hourly rate$25.31$25.31
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs19780
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Accompanist vs church organist salary

Accompanists and church organists have different pay scales, as shown below.

AccompanistChurch Organist
Average salary$52,645$52,640
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $111,000Between $25,000 And $108,000
Highest paying CityHempstead, NY-
Highest paying stateNew York-
Best paying companyKern Community College District-
Best paying industryEducation-

Differences between accompanist and church organist education

There are a few differences between an accompanist and a church organist in terms of educational background:

AccompanistChurch Organist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorMusicMusic
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Accompanist vs church organist demographics

Here are the differences between accompanists' and church organists' demographics:

AccompanistChurch Organist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 38.6% Female, 61.4%Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.6% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.7% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between accompanist and church organist duties and responsibilities

Accompanist example responsibilities.

  • Provide solos for worship services, lead tenor section of adult choir
  • Chart chords for gospel choir songs.
  • Accompany individual voice, violin, and cello students.
  • Accompany cello, violin and piano students in competition, recital, workshop, and certification programs.
  • Perform in piano bars, cabarets, and clubs all over NYC, Off-Broadway, and in summer stock
  • Accompany solo singers during rehearsals and competitions.
  • Show more

Church organist example responsibilities.

  • Design procedures and PowerPoint presentations.
  • Act as a vacation bible school instructor in the summer months.

Accompanist vs church organist skills

Common accompanist skills
  • Music Theory, 18%
  • Sight-Read, 16%
  • Piano Performance, 16%
  • Singers, 8%
  • Piano Accompaniment, 8%
  • Musical Theatre, 7%
Common church organist skills
  • Worship Services, 49%
  • Easter, 26%
  • Chorus, 25%

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs