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The differences between music teachers and music instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a music instructor has an average salary of $57,930, which is higher than the $51,978 average annual salary of a music teacher.
The top three skills for a music teacher include classroom management, professional development and music education. The most important skills for a music instructor are classroom management, adaptive, and fine arts.
| Music Teacher | Music Instructor | |
| Yearly salary | $51,978 | $57,930 |
| Hourly rate | $24.99 | $27.85 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 54,429 | 26,788 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A music teacher is an individual who teaches music students about music theory, which includes sight-reading, the importance of scales, and instrumental techniques. Music teachers assist students with their instruments in preparing them for music examinations, auditions, and live performances while updating parents about the progress of their children's musical talents. They can work with a group of music students or direct school bands, choirs, and orchestras. Music teachers may work in organizations such as community centers, music shops, or schools.
A Music Teacher instructs children and adults to sing or play instruments. They may teach lessons at school, train students at home, or conduct choir rehearsals.
Music teachers and music instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Music Teacher | Music Instructor | |
| Average salary | $51,978 | $57,930 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $70,000 | Between $34,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New York |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Kern Community College District |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Media |
There are a few differences between a music teacher and a music instructor in terms of educational background:
| Music Teacher | Music Instructor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Music | Music |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between music teachers' and music instructors' demographics:
| Music Teacher | Music Instructor | |
| Average age | 42 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.0% Female, 57.0% | Male, 63.7% Female, 36.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 3.7% White, 69.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 7.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 11.3% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 16% |