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The differences between sound designers and designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a sound designer, becoming a designer takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a sound designer has an average salary of $71,949, which is higher than the $66,347 average annual salary of a designer.
The top three skills for a sound designer include audio assets, pro tools and wwise. The most important skills for a designer are sketch, customer service, and graphic design.
| Sound Designer | Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $71,949 | $66,347 |
| Hourly rate | $34.59 | $31.90 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 50,235 | 52,433 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Sound designers are audio professionals who are responsible for procuring all sound effects to be used for specific show products that can be either recorded or live. These designers are required to meet with production directors to discuss the sound design for the show and to make the cue list. They are required to set up any sound reinforcement equipment that may be needed for production. Sound designers must also be familiar with sound editing programs such as Audacity and QLab.
A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences. Designers are creative thinkers with a great eye to configure the skeletal and structural properties of the targeted output. They work in several fields, such as fashion, architecture, web graphics, and user experience. In spite of the variety of professionals in the design industry, all of them are artistic, passionate, inspiring, and emotionally connected to their projects and brands.
Sound designers and designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sound Designer | Designer | |
| Average salary | $71,949 | $66,347 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $120,000 | Between $45,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a sound designer and a designer in terms of educational background:
| Sound Designer | Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Music | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | New York University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between sound designers' and designers' demographics:
| Sound Designer | Designer | |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.0% Female, 14.0% | Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 13% |