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Sound engineer vs mixer

The differences between sound engineers and mixers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a sound engineer has an average salary of $52,197, which is higher than the $34,891 average annual salary of a mixer.

The top three skills for a sound engineer include audio equipment, venues and A/V. The most important skills for a mixer are basic math, math, and mixers.

Sound engineer vs mixer overview

Sound EngineerMixer
Yearly salary$52,197$34,891
Hourly rate$25.09$16.77
Growth rate10%-
Number of jobs6,9231,594
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%High School Diploma, 54%
Average age4244
Years of experience2-

What does a sound engineer do?

Sound engineers are audio engineering professionals who are responsible for performing audio mixes and reproduction while manipulating the equalization and electronic effects of sound. These engineers must design and control the sound at different locations such as theaters, conferences, and any other venue that requires sound projection. By using their well-trained ears, sound engineers must control the combination of microphones, sound levels, and sound outputs. Sound engineers must also maintain and sound up sound equipment such as amplifiers, complex PA systems, and speakers for bands and other sound engineers.

What does a mixer do?

In general, a mixer prepares dry chemicals and raw materials and combines them for use in safety boot manufacturing. Mixers provide training to work with chemicals under the regulations set by OSHA. They execute the sampling, documentation review, and inspection as required and necessary. Usually, they work in various departments while keeping with the standards. The skills and knowledge they need to develop include safety procedures, production schedules, and company policies.

Sound engineer vs mixer salary

Sound engineers and mixers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sound EngineerMixer
Average salary$52,197$34,891
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $95,000Between $27,000 And $43,000
Highest paying CityPhiladelphia, PAMinneapolis, MN
Highest paying stateOregonMinnesota
Best paying companyTechtronic Industries TTIEcolab
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between sound engineer and mixer education

There are a few differences between a sound engineer and a mixer in terms of educational background:

Sound EngineerMixer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%High School Diploma, 54%
Most common majorMusicBusiness
Most common collegeJohns Hopkins University-

Sound engineer vs mixer demographics

Here are the differences between sound engineers' and mixers' demographics:

Sound EngineerMixer
Average age4244
Gender ratioMale, 90.3% Female, 9.7%Male, 89.0% Female, 11.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 4.7% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage8%7%

Differences between sound engineer and mixer duties and responsibilities

Sound engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage PowerPoint and mixing music at the same time.
  • Work for local contractor designing spreader bars for crane rigging using AutoCAD.
  • Provide equipment and engineering services for performers, musicians, bands, and DJ's.
  • Mix all live services FOH and maintain all audio, broadcasting and media system as well.
  • Experience tuning, calculating EQ settings, as well as appropriate delay times within an automobile.
  • Master multiple projects albums by working on song levels plus EQ and correct minor mix deficiencies with equalization.
  • Show more

Mixer example responsibilities.

  • Test each batch with QA.
  • Perform QA inspection on products on and off production line.
  • Operate equipment including beaters, extruders, and discharge pipes.
  • Produce high grade plastics from recycle and raw materials using extruders.
  • Operate RF laser gun to inquire the accurate chemical weight for the bulk order.
  • Mix icing and other batters by reading recipes, scaling and measuring ingredients and operating mixers.
  • Show more

Sound engineer vs mixer skills

Common sound engineer skills
  • Audio Equipment, 15%
  • Venues, 11%
  • A/V, 10%
  • Technical Aspects, 8%
  • Live Sound, 5%
  • Stage Equipment, 4%
Common mixer skills
  • Basic Math, 18%
  • Math, 15%
  • Mixers, 9%
  • Safety Procedures, 7%
  • Production Schedules, 5%
  • Lot Numbers, 4%

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