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Professional Guitarist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ensemble Performing Arts

Guitar/Bass Teacher

Lafayette, LA · On-site

$20 - $26/hr

About the Position Ensemble Schools is seeking a fun, experienced, and professional guitar, bass, and ukulele teacher for The Music Box in Lafayette, LA. We are looking for teachers who will instruct ...

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How much do professional guitarist jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for professional guitarist in the United States is $21.63, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.43 and $22.84 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a professional guitarist?

Professional guitarists are skilled musicians who play the guitar as their primary occupation. They may perform solo, as part of bands, or as session musicians in studios. Their work can include playing live concerts, recording music, teaching guitar, and composing music for various projects. Professional guitarists often specialize in specific genres such as rock, jazz, classical, or pop, and may collaborate with other artists or contribute to soundtracks and commercials. Success in this field typically requires a combination of talent, experience, networking, and dedication.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a professional guitarist?

To thrive as a Professional Guitarist, you need advanced musical proficiency, strong technique, and a solid understanding of music theory, often gained through years of practice or formal music education. Familiarity with digital audio workstations (DAWs), effects pedals, and guitar amplifiers, as well as experience with recording and performance equipment, is highly valuable. Creativity, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills help you collaborate with other musicians and engage audiences. These skills and qualities are crucial to consistently deliver compelling performances, adapt to diverse musical settings, and sustain a successful career in the music industry.

What are common challenges professional guitarists face when performing live, and how can they prepare for them?

Professional guitarists often encounter challenges such as stage fright, unpredictable technical issues, and adapting to different acoustics in various venues. To prepare, they typically rehearse extensively, develop backup plans for equipment malfunctions, and familiarize themselves with the venue's sound system ahead of time. Building strong communication with sound engineers and other band members also helps ensure smooth performances, while practicing mindfulness techniques can ease performance anxiety.

What is the difference between Professional Guitarist vs Session Musician?

AspectProfessional GuitaristSession Musician
CredentialsGuitar proficiency, performance experienceGuitar skills, studio experience
Work EnvironmentLive performances, tours, concertsRecording studios, live sessions
Employer & IndustryBands, solo artists, entertainment industryRecording studios, production companies
Search & Comparison IntentPerformance, touring, live gigsStudio work, recording sessions

While both Professional Guitarists and Session Musicians are skilled guitar players, Professional Guitarists primarily perform live, touring, and concert settings, showcasing their performance skills. Session Musicians focus on recording studio work, providing specialized guitar parts for albums and projects. Both roles require strong guitar proficiency, but their work environments and job focuses differ significantly.

How do you become a professional guitarist?

To become a professional guitarist, one typically develops strong technical skills through consistent practice, often studying music theory and guitar techniques. Gaining experience by performing live, recording, and building a portfolio helps establish a career, while networking and marketing oneself are essential for success in the industry.

What jobs can I get as a professional guitarist?

A professional guitarist can find employment as a session musician, live performer, music teacher, or band member. These roles often require strong technical skills, knowledge of music theory, and the ability to read sheet music or improvise. Opportunities exist in genres such as rock, jazz, classical, and pop, and may involve touring, studio recording, or private instruction.
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For Professional Guitarist jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Professional Guitarist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Professional Guitarist job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,000 per year, or $21.6 per hour.

Guitar Teacher-Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, GA • On-site

Ensemble Performing Arts
Performing Arts Companies • 1 - 5K employees
Learn more about Ensemble Performing Artsexternal

$28 - $32/hr

Full-time, Part-time

Retirement

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

About the Position

Ensemble Schools is seeking a fun, experienced, and professional guitar teacher at our Atlanta, GA Music School, Highland Music Studio. Instructors should be comfortable teaching both one-on-one lessons and group classes. Preference will be given to candidates who are able to teach piano in addition to other instruments.

Successful candidates will have a strong music background evidenced by a degree in performance or equivalent performing experience, a demonstrated love of teaching, experience working with young musicians, a robust appreciation for punctuality, reliable transportation, and the ability to pass a routine background check.

Instructor pay is commensurate with experience and will be in the range of $28-$32/hour. A 401(K) program with employer matching is available to all of our employees after 30 days on the job. Health benefit options are available for all part- and full-time employees at Ensemble.

About Ensemble Schools

Ensemble Schools is a partnership of community-driven music & dance schools that maintain individual identities but share resources to ensure their mutual success.

Empowering artists by safeguarding the businesses that love them Our values include:

  • Stewardship: We are caretakers of our local businesses and communities, helping them thrive by making it easy for our teachers to cultivate an enriching learning experience for students.
  • Growth: Our teachers are integral to our success, and we are committed to their professional growth. As an ever-growing partnership of music and dance schools, we seek to increase the high-quality resources provided to our schools and teachers.
  • Stagehands: Our Shared Services team runs in the background to support our schools. By doing this, we champion our teachers and students to be the real stars of the show!

This posting is for the Highland Music Studio. We offer piano, guitar, voice, drums, and other instrument lessons to children ages six and up and cater to all levels including beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Highland Music Studio welcomes adults as well.

https://highland-music.com/

Please send a resume and brief cover letter to Stephanie Henry through this portal to apply for this position. Diversity is a strength of our artistic community, and we invite all those meeting the above criteria to apply.

Job Type: Part-time