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Sound engineer vs music engineer

The differences between sound engineers and music 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 music engineer. Additionally, a music engineer has an average salary of $80,422, 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 music engineer are audio equipment, music production, and R.

Sound engineer vs music engineer overview

Sound EngineerMusic Engineer
Yearly salary$52,197$80,422
Hourly rate$25.09$38.66
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs6,9233,210
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Sound engineer vs music engineer salary

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

Sound EngineerMusic Engineer
Average salary$52,197$80,422
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $95,000Between $53,000 And $121,000
Highest paying CityPhiladelphia, PA-
Highest paying stateOregon-
Best paying companyTechtronic Industries TTI-
Best paying industry--

Differences between sound engineer and music engineer education

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

Sound EngineerMusic Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Most common majorMusicMusic
Most common collegeJohns Hopkins UniversityNew York University

Sound engineer vs music engineer demographics

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

Sound EngineerMusic Engineer
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 90.3% Female, 9.7%Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9%
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, 10.3% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 5.0% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between sound engineer and music 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

Music engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage PowerPoint and mixing music at the same time.
  • Operate various digital and analog audio consoles during musical performances to create optimal experience for listener and musicians.
  • Retain several local and national commercial clients while primarily engineering and producing music CDs.

Sound engineer vs music engineer skills

Common sound engineer skills
  • Audio Equipment, 15%
  • Venues, 11%
  • A/V, 10%
  • Technical Aspects, 8%
  • Live Sound, 5%
  • Stage Equipment, 4%
Common music engineer skills
  • Audio Equipment, 18%
  • Music Production, 17%
  • R, 14%
  • Pro Tools, 14%
  • Music Theory, 14%
  • Sound Effects, 9%

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