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The differences between audio engineers and producers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an audio engineer, becoming a producer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a producer has an average salary of $72,202, which is higher than the $55,853 average annual salary of an audio engineer.
The top three skills for an audio engineer include video production, audio systems and audio visual. The most important skills for a producer are work ethic, video production, and client relationships.
| Audio Engineer | Producer | |
| Yearly salary | $55,853 | $72,202 |
| Hourly rate | $26.85 | $34.71 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 1,750 | 10,610 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
An audio engineer is a trained professional who specializes in working with the mechanics of recording, mixing, and reproducing sound. Audio engineers work with clients such as record producers, musicians, and artists to record the sound they are making and manipulate the equalizer, the compression, and the gates when mixing. They must possess excellent skills in operating recording equipment as well as maintain them. Audio engineers can also work in different audio fields that can include church audio, live performances, and internet radio.
A producer is an individual who is responsible for providing infrastructure, resources, and logistics in making a movie, television show, or stage production. Producers hire production staff such as director, crew, and sometimes actors to coordinate their activities throughout the production process. They support the creative team by conducting meetings to discuss the production's progress and ensure adherence to deadlines. Producers also travel often either to film on location for a movie or to tour with a theatre production.
Audio engineers and producers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Audio Engineer | Producer | |
| Average salary | $55,853 | $72,202 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $102,000 | Between $43,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an audio engineer and a producer in terms of educational background:
| Audio Engineer | Producer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Music | Communication |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between audio engineers' and producers' demographics:
| Audio Engineer | Producer | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% | Male, 58.2% Female, 41.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 6.3% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 14% |