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The differences between recording engineers and sound assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a recording engineer and a sound assistant. Additionally, a recording engineer has an average salary of $78,099, which is higher than the $67,356 average annual salary of a sound assistant.
The top three skills for a recording engineer include digital audio, R and music videos. The most important skills for a sound assistant are sound effects, pro tools, and audio equipment.
| Recording Engineer | Sound Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $78,099 | $67,356 |
| Hourly rate | $37.55 | $32.38 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 7,117 | 239 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Recording engineers and sound assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Recording Engineer | Sound Assistant | |
| Average salary | $78,099 | $67,356 |
| Salary range | Between $44,000 And $135,000 | Between $39,000 And $114,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | - |
| Best paying company | Western Digital | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a recording engineer and a sound assistant in terms of educational background:
| Recording Engineer | Sound Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Music | Photography |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between recording engineers' and sound assistants' demographics:
| Recording Engineer | Sound Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.4% Female, 8.6% | Male, 70.2% Female, 29.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 5.2% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |