Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between sound 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 sound engineer and a sound assistant. Additionally, a sound assistant has an average salary of $67,356, 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 sound assistant are sound effects, pro tools, and audio equipment.
| Sound Engineer | Sound Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $52,197 | $67,356 |
| Hourly rate | $25.09 | $32.38 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 6,923 | 239 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Sound engineers and sound assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sound Engineer | Sound Assistant | |
| Average salary | $52,197 | $67,356 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $95,000 | Between $39,000 And $114,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | - |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | - |
| Best paying company | Techtronic Industries TTI | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a sound engineer and a sound assistant in terms of educational background:
| Sound Engineer | Sound Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Music | Photography |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between sound engineers' and sound assistants' demographics:
| Sound Engineer | Sound Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 70.2% Female, 29.8% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 8.2% 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% |