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Choral director vs assistant music director

The differences between choral directors 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 choral director and an assistant music director. Additionally, a choral director has an average salary of $54,709, which is higher than the $50,431 average annual salary of an assistant music director.

The top three skills for a choral director include classroom management, fine arts and music education. The most important skills for an assistant music director are fine arts, music program, and DJ.

Choral director vs assistant music director overview

Choral DirectorAssistant Music Director
Yearly salary$54,709$50,431
Hourly rate$26.30$24.25
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs4,7837,409
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4444
Years of experience66

Choral director vs assistant music director salary

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

Choral DirectorAssistant Music Director
Average salary$54,709$50,431
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $100,000Between $28,000 And $88,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateAlaskaArizona
Best paying companyDePauw UniversityGeorgetown University
Best paying industryEducationMedia

Differences between choral director and assistant music director education

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

Choral DirectorAssistant Music Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorMusicMusic
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaStanford University

Choral director vs assistant music director demographics

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

Choral DirectorAssistant Music Director
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 47.1% Female, 52.9%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 choral director and assistant music director duties and responsibilities

Choral director example responsibilities.

  • Manage entire music program, schedule ministers, concerts, and prayer services.
  • Produce and direct a full Broadway Jr. production of Annie.
  • Continue to serve as a UIL choral adjudicator across the state.
  • Collaborate with drama teacher to compose music/libretto for musical theater setting of Cinderella.
  • Accompany all the choirs on the piano and organ for services, concerts, and special events.
  • Produce and direct a full Broadway Jr. production of Annie.

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

Choral director vs assistant music director skills

Common choral director skills
  • Classroom Management, 18%
  • Fine Arts, 9%
  • Music Education, 9%
  • Music Theory, 8%
  • Choral Music, 7%
  • Student Learning, 6%
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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