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Professional musician vs church organist

The differences between professional musicians and church organists 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 organist. Additionally, a professional musician has an average salary of $55,483, which is higher than the $52,640 average annual salary of a church organist.

The top three skills for a professional musician include live performances, music venues and music theory. The most important skills for a church organist are worship services, easter, and chorus.

Professional musician vs church organist overview

Professional MusicianChurch Organist
Yearly salary$55,483$52,640
Hourly rate$26.67$25.31
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs43,35480
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Professional musician vs church organist salary

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

Professional MusicianChurch Organist
Average salary$55,483$52,640
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $121,000Between $25,000 And $108,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between professional musician and church organist education

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

Professional MusicianChurch Organist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorMusicMusic
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyStanford University

Professional musician vs church organist demographics

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

Professional MusicianChurch Organist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 82.2% Female, 17.8%Male, 57.4% Female, 42.6%
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, 11.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.7% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between professional musician and church organist 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 organist example responsibilities.

  • Design procedures and PowerPoint presentations.
  • Act as a vacation bible school instructor in the summer months.

Professional musician vs church organist skills

Common professional musician skills
  • Live Performances, 17%
  • Music Venues, 7%
  • Music Theory, 6%
  • Songwriting, 6%
  • Keyboard, 5%
  • Brass, 5%
Common church organist skills
  • Worship Services, 49%
  • Easter, 26%
  • Chorus, 25%

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