How does one become a record producer?

How can one become an audio engineer or a record producer?

• What are the prerequisites/qualifications needed? Where and how can one start to gain experience? What career graph could one expect? And finally, how much money can one expect?

• Answer:

  An audio engineering degree or diploma is generally a requisite to getting hired. Even with your educational background, you still have to start at the bottom at a professional recording studio as a runner or assistant engineer (pay ranges from minimum wage to $10/hr, sometimes a little higher if it's a small studio). Most engineers or producers get their "break" from an artist that gels with them in the studio. At which point you generally become a freelancer and bring your own clients into studios.