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Professional musician vs recording artist

The differences between professional musicians and recording artists 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 recording artist. Additionally, a professional musician has an average salary of $55,483, which is higher than the $53,291 average annual salary of a recording artist.

The top three skills for a professional musician include live performances, music venues and music theory. The most important skills for a recording artist are R, event planning, and music videos.

Professional musician vs recording artist overview

Professional MusicianRecording Artist
Yearly salary$55,483$53,291
Hourly rate$26.67$25.62
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs43,3543,745
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Professional musician vs recording artist salary

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

Professional MusicianRecording Artist
Average salary$55,483$53,291
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $121,000Between $22,000 And $124,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between professional musician and recording artist education

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

Professional MusicianRecording Artist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorMusicMusic
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyStanford University

Professional musician vs recording artist demographics

Here are the differences between professional musicians' and recording artists' demographics:

Professional MusicianRecording Artist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 82.2% Female, 17.8%Male, 73.1% Female, 26.9%
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, 10.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 5.5% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between professional musician and recording artist 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

Recording artist example responsibilities.

  • Manage, perform and record music feature on MTV, national radio.
  • Assist costumes designer with material selections.
  • Maintain gear, costumes and props.
  • Perform poetry, organize skits, and act.
  • Design album art, facebook cover photos, and enhance branding of the group.
  • Execute multiple shows, daily and weekly, and proficient at the memorization of lines.
  • Show more

Professional musician vs recording artist skills

Common professional musician skills
  • Live Performances, 17%
  • Music Venues, 7%
  • Music Theory, 6%
  • Songwriting, 6%
  • Keyboard, 5%
  • Brass, 5%
Common recording artist skills
  • R, 28%
  • Event Planning, 11%
  • Music Videos, 7%
  • Live Performances, 7%
  • Songwriting, 5%
  • YouTube, 5%

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