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Mixing engineer vs play back operator

The differences between mixing engineers and play back operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a mixing engineer and a play back operator. Additionally, a mixing engineer has an average salary of $81,185, which is higher than the $43,574 average annual salary of a play back operator.

The top three skills for a mixing engineer include audio equipment, R and sound design. The most important skills for a play back operator are control room, , and .

Mixing engineer vs play back operator overview

Mixing EngineerPlay Back Operator
Yearly salary$81,185$43,574
Hourly rate$39.03$20.95
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs51627,895
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Mixing engineer vs play back operator salary

Mixing engineers and play back operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Mixing EngineerPlay Back Operator
Average salary$81,185$43,574
Salary rangeBetween $48,000 And $134,000Between $30,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between mixing engineer and play back operator education

There are a few differences between a mixing engineer and a play back operator in terms of educational background:

Mixing EngineerPlay Back Operator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorMusicBusiness
Most common collegeJohns Hopkins UniversityNew York University

Mixing engineer vs play back operator demographics

Here are the differences between mixing engineers' and play back operators' demographics:

Mixing EngineerPlay Back Operator
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 94.4% Female, 5.6%Male, 73.1% Female, 26.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 5.0% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between mixing engineer and play back operator duties and responsibilities

Mixing engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage PowerPoint and mixing music at the same time.
  • Retain several local and national commercial clients while primarily engineering and producing music CDs.
  • Operate production board for high school basketball and baseball games without managerial supervision.

Play back operator example responsibilities.

  • Manage and update show's Facebook page and website with strategically tailor content aim at growing audience base.
  • Conduct routine operating inspections of the unit, troubleshoot operational problems and respond to area emergencies or to changing operational situations.
  • Solicit previous ADT callers and transfer to sales representative.
  • Interact with the Flexo department to resolve any issues relate to machine performance.

Mixing engineer vs play back operator skills

Common mixing engineer skills
  • Audio Equipment, 23%
  • R, 15%
  • Sound Design, 7%
  • Music Videos, 4%
  • SSL, 4%
  • Studio Equipment, 4%
Common play back operator skills
  • Control Room, 100%

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