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Professional musician vs drummer

The differences between professional musicians and drummers 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 drummer. Additionally, a professional musician has an average salary of $55,483, which is higher than the $54,721 average annual salary of a drummer.

The top three skills for a professional musician include live performances, music venues and music theory. The most important skills for a drummer are NYC, EP, and worship services.

Professional musician vs drummer overview

Professional MusicianDrummer
Yearly salary$55,483$54,721
Hourly rate$26.67$26.31
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs43,35460
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Professional musician vs drummer salary

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

Professional MusicianDrummer
Average salary$55,483$54,721
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $121,000Between $25,000 And $118,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between professional musician and drummer education

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

Professional MusicianDrummer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorMusicMusic
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Professional musician vs drummer demographics

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

Professional MusicianDrummer
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 82.2% Female, 17.8%Male, 93.8% Female, 6.2%
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, 12.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.0% Asian, 5.5% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between professional musician and drummer 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

Drummer example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish placement in first group clarinet section.
  • Travel throughout the state and country co-teaching a class in gospel music workshops.
  • Founder of various alternative rock groups-Multiple publish works-Regularly gain experience in songwriting, management, production, marketing, video and design
  • Teach bible study for the college age students in the congregation.

Professional musician vs drummer skills

Common professional musician skills
  • Live Performances, 17%
  • Music Venues, 7%
  • Music Theory, 6%
  • Songwriting, 6%
  • Keyboard, 5%
  • Brass, 5%
Common drummer skills
  • NYC, 17%
  • EP, 16%
  • Worship Services, 16%
  • Church Services, 11%
  • YouTube, 10%
  • Facebook, 9%

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