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Professional musician vs church musician

The differences between professional musicians and church musicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a professional musician and a church musician. Additionally, a professional musician has an average salary of $55,483, which is higher than the $53,449 average annual salary of a church musician.

The top three skills for a professional musician include live performances, music venues and music theory. The most important skills for a church musician are pastoral care, individual pieces, and baptist.

Professional musician vs church musician overview

Professional MusicianChurch Musician
Yearly salary$55,483$53,449
Hourly rate$26.67$25.70
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs43,35493
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Professional musician vs church musician salary

Professional musicians and church musicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Professional MusicianChurch Musician
Average salary$55,483$53,449
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $121,000Between $25,000 And $113,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between professional musician and church musician education

There are a few differences between a professional musician and a church musician in terms of educational background:

Professional MusicianChurch Musician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorMusicMusic
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyStanford University

Professional musician vs church musician demographics

Here are the differences between professional musicians' and church musicians' demographics:

Professional MusicianChurch Musician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 82.2% Female, 17.8%Male, 69.7% Female, 30.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 5.5% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 13.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 5.4% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between professional musician and church musician duties and responsibilities

Professional musician example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish placement in first group clarinet section.
  • Play drums, percussion keyboard instruments, tympani, and ethnic percussion.
  • use of rolland, yamaha, instruments, composing music.also taken courses on songwriting and acapella.also musis theory and philosphy.
  • Compose and write own original copyright music/tablature; release one EP and one full length LP (studio album).
  • Provide various music from spirituals, hymns, anthems, older gospel and the very latest of good quality gospel music.
  • Provide musical support during gospel choir singing engagements.
  • Show more

Church musician example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish placement in first group clarinet section.
  • Perform traditional gospel, new age gospel, and inspirational music for congregation.
  • Founder of various alternative rock groups-Multiple publish works-Regularly gain experience in songwriting, management, production, marketing, video and design
  • Act as a vacation bible school instructor in the summer months.

Professional musician vs church musician skills

Common professional musician skills
  • Live Performances, 17%
  • Music Venues, 7%
  • Music Theory, 6%
  • Songwriting, 6%
  • Keyboard, 5%
  • Brass, 5%
Common church musician skills
  • Pastoral Care, 75%
  • Individual Pieces, 16%
  • Baptist, 9%

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