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Professional musician vs guitarist

The differences between professional musicians and guitarists 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 guitarist. Additionally, a guitarist has an average salary of $68,451, which is higher than the $55,483 average annual salary of a professional musician.

The top three skills for a professional musician include live performances, music venues and music theory. The most important skills for a guitarist are electric guitar, music festival, and music theory.

Professional musician vs guitarist overview

Professional MusicianGuitarist
Yearly salary$55,483$68,451
Hourly rate$26.67$32.91
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs43,35459
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Professional musician vs guitarist salary

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

Professional MusicianGuitarist
Average salary$55,483$68,451
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $121,000Between $29,000 And $157,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between professional musician and guitarist education

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

Professional MusicianGuitarist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorMusicMusic
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology

Professional musician vs guitarist demographics

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

Professional MusicianGuitarist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 82.2% Female, 17.8%Male, 92.1% Female, 7.9%
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, 9.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.5% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between professional musician and guitarist 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

Guitarist example responsibilities.

  • Achieve desired tonal and harmonic balance by communicating clearly with singers.
  • Gain songwriting skills in collaboration with other local musicians.
  • Achieve desired tonal and harmonic balance by communicating clearly with singers.
  • Lead guitar player, back-up singer and songwriter for independent professional band.
  • Participate in workshops for teambuilding and leadership.

Professional musician vs guitarist skills

Common professional musician skills
  • Live Performances, 17%
  • Music Venues, 7%
  • Music Theory, 6%
  • Songwriting, 6%
  • Keyboard, 5%
  • Brass, 5%
Common guitarist skills
  • Electric Guitar, 17%
  • Music Festival, 9%
  • Music Theory, 9%
  • EP, 8%
  • NYC, 6%
  • Facebook, 6%

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