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The differences between music composers 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 a music composer and an orchestra director. Additionally, an orchestra director has an average salary of $57,146, which is higher than the $54,646 average annual salary of a music composer.
The top three skills for a music composer include audio engineering, video games and music theory. The most important skills for an orchestra director are student achievement, all-state, and fine arts.
| Music Composer | Orchestra Director | |
| Yearly salary | $54,646 | $57,146 |
| Hourly rate | $26.27 | $27.47 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 3,788 | 4,789 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Music composers and orchestra directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Music Composer | Orchestra Director | |
| Average salary | $54,646 | $57,146 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $106,000 | Between $31,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Odessa, TX |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Permian High School |
| Best paying industry | Media | Retail |
There are a few differences between a music composer and an orchestra director in terms of educational background:
| Music Composer | Orchestra Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Music | Music |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between music composers' and orchestra directors' demographics:
| Music Composer | Orchestra Director | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2% | Male, 48.4% Female, 51.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 Percentage | 30% | 30% |