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Sound engineer vs mixing engineer

The differences between sound engineers and mixing engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a sound engineer and a mixing engineer. Additionally, a mixing engineer has an average salary of $81,185, which is higher than the $52,197 average annual salary of a sound engineer.

The top three skills for a sound engineer include audio equipment, venues and A/V. The most important skills for a mixing engineer are audio equipment, R, and sound design.

Sound engineer vs mixing engineer overview

Sound EngineerMixing Engineer
Yearly salary$52,197$81,185
Hourly rate$25.09$39.03
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs6,923516
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Sound engineer vs mixing engineer salary

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

Sound EngineerMixing Engineer
Average salary$52,197$81,185
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $95,000Between $48,000 And $134,000
Highest paying CityPhiladelphia, PA-
Highest paying stateOregon-
Best paying companyTechtronic Industries TTI-
Best paying industry--

Differences between sound engineer and mixing engineer education

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

Sound EngineerMixing Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorMusicMusic
Most common collegeJohns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University

Sound engineer vs mixing engineer demographics

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

Sound EngineerMixing Engineer
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 90.3% Female, 9.7%Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6%
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, 9.1% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between sound engineer and mixing engineer 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

Mixing engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage PowerPoint and mixing music at the same time.
  • Retain several local and national commercial clients while primarily engineering and producing music CDs.
  • Operate production board for high school basketball and baseball games without managerial supervision.

Sound engineer vs mixing engineer skills

Common sound engineer skills
  • Audio Equipment, 15%
  • Venues, 11%
  • A/V, 10%
  • Technical Aspects, 8%
  • Live Sound, 5%
  • Stage Equipment, 4%
Common mixing engineer skills
  • Audio Equipment, 23%
  • R, 15%
  • Sound Design, 7%
  • Music Videos, 4%
  • SSL, 4%
  • Studio Equipment, 4%

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