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Assistant music director vs orchestra director

The differences between assistant music directors and orchestra directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an assistant music director and an orchestra director. Additionally, an orchestra director has an average salary of $57,146, which is higher than the $50,431 average annual salary of an assistant music director.

The top three skills for an assistant music director include fine arts, music program and DJ. The most important skills for an orchestra director are student achievement, all-state, and fine arts.

Assistant music director vs orchestra director overview

Assistant Music DirectorOrchestra Director
Yearly salary$50,431$57,146
Hourly rate$24.25$27.47
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs7,4094,789
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4444
Years of experience66

Assistant music director vs orchestra director salary

Assistant music directors and orchestra directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant Music DirectorOrchestra Director
Average salary$50,431$57,146
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $88,000Between $31,000 And $104,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WAOdessa, TX
Highest paying stateArizonaAlaska
Best paying companyGeorgetown UniversityPermian High School
Best paying industryMediaRetail

Differences between assistant music director and orchestra director education

There are a few differences between an assistant music director and an orchestra director in terms of educational background:

Assistant Music DirectorOrchestra Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorMusicMusic
Most common collegeStanford UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Assistant music director vs orchestra director demographics

Here are the differences between assistant music directors' and orchestra directors' demographics:

Assistant Music DirectorOrchestra Director
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 58.4% Female, 41.6%Male, 48.4% Female, 51.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 5.3% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 5.3% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage30%30%

Differences between assistant music director and orchestra director duties and responsibilities

Assistant music director example responsibilities.

  • Achieve staff competence with 4 staff members, encouraging the growth and development of one staff member into a leadership position.
  • Review incoming CDs from record labels in order to comply with FCC guidelines.
  • Promote performances and restaurant specials on Facebook, various other platforms.
  • Design and run powerpoint presentation and sound system when media tech is absent.
  • Develop and maintain a database for tracking the incoming and outgoing CDs for review by music staff.
  • Create weekly PowerPoint presentations for weekend liturgies.
  • Show more

Orchestra director example responsibilities.

  • Prepare concerts and participate in UIL concert and sight-reading competition.
  • Collaborate with drama teacher to compose music/libretto for musical theater setting of Cinderella.
  • Collaborate with drama teacher to compose music/libretto for musical theater setting of Cinderella.

Assistant music director vs orchestra director skills

Common assistant music director skills
  • Fine Arts, 12%
  • Music Program, 10%
  • DJ, 9%
  • Radio Station, 8%
  • Radio Show, 8%
  • Chorus, 7%
Common orchestra director skills
  • Student Achievement, 27%
  • All-State, 14%
  • Fine Arts, 9%
  • Music Theory, 6%
  • Music Education, 5%
  • General Music, 5%

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