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Band leader vs assistant music director

The differences between band leaders and assistant music directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a band leader and an assistant music director. Additionally, a band leader has an average salary of $55,494, which is higher than the $50,431 average annual salary of an assistant music director.

The top three skills for a band leader include live performances, event planning and travel arrangements. The most important skills for an assistant music director are fine arts, music program, and DJ.

Band leader vs assistant music director overview

Band LeaderAssistant Music Director
Yearly salary$55,494$50,431
Hourly rate$26.68$24.25
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs29,0667,409
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4444
Years of experience66

Band leader vs assistant music director salary

Band leaders and assistant music directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Band LeaderAssistant Music Director
Average salary$55,494$50,431
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $98,000Between $28,000 And $88,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Arizona
Best paying company-Georgetown University
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between band leader and assistant music director education

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

Band LeaderAssistant Music Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorMusicMusic
Most common collegeStanford UniversityStanford University

Band leader vs assistant music director demographics

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

Band LeaderAssistant Music Director
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 74.8% Female, 25.2%Male, 58.4% Female, 41.6%
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 band leader and assistant music director duties and responsibilities

Band leader example responsibilities.

  • Perform diagnostics, lead audits, kaizen events, value stream mapping, PDCA teams and employee involvement.
  • Serve in consecutive positions of increase responsibility requiring strong interpersonal skills, extensive administrative, maintenance, and logistics backgrounds.
  • Serve in consecutive positions of increase responsibility requiring strong interpersonal skills, extensive administrative, maintenance, and logistics backgrounds.

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

Band leader vs assistant music director skills

Common band leader skills
  • Live Performances, 27%
  • Event Planning, 19%
  • Travel Arrangements, 11%
  • Corporate Events, 6%
  • Private Events, 6%
  • Private Parties, 5%
Common assistant music director skills
  • Fine Arts, 12%
  • Music Program, 10%
  • DJ, 9%
  • Radio Station, 8%
  • Radio Show, 8%
  • Chorus, 7%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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