Sound engineering technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,570 | $18.06 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| Mean (average) | $81,390 | $39.13 |
| 90th percentile | $137,370 | $66.04 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Sound engineering technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 40 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $66,350 | $36,310 | $110,570 | 130 | 0.47 |
| California | $78,150 | $45,720 | $143,130 | 4,060 | 2.65 |
| Colorado | $60,630 | $40,970 | $84,970 | 170 | 0.69 |
| Connecticut | $72,800 | $40,580 | $85,470 | 60 | 0.45 |
| District of Columbia | $106,630 | $61,300 | $156,000 | 90 | 1.6 |
| Florida | $70,360 | $41,060 | $140,340 | 590 | 0.71 |
| Georgia | $77,010 | $35,080 | $104,540 | 200 | 0.49 |
| Hawaii | Data unavailable | 30 | 0.57 | ||
| Idaho | $54,970 | $32,280 | $78,870 | 40 | 0.5 |
| Illinois | $73,130 | $31,200 | $113,460 | 570 | 1.11 |
| Indiana | $73,130 | $44,520 | $85,040 | 50 | 0.2 |
| Iowa | $57,400 | $32,280 | $62,400 | 60 | 0.49 |
| Kansas | $62,710 | $42,600 | $107,270 | 30 | 0.25 |
| Kentucky | $74,100 | $47,950 | $81,020 | 60 | 0.35 |
| Louisiana | $55,530 | $33,760 | $83,920 | ||
| Maine | $48,380 | $42,580 | $93,230 | 40 | 0.71 |
| Maryland | $79,990 | $50,440 | $108,260 | 160 | 0.71 |
| Massachusetts | $63,250 | $35,540 | $134,480 | 200 | 0.66 |
| Michigan | $51,840 | $32,250 | $88,220 | 200 | 0.53 |
| Minnesota | Data unavailable | 400 | 1.6 | ||
| Missouri | $61,750 | $39,800 | $104,350 | 190 | 0.79 |
| Montana | $57,600 | $28,080 | $67,390 | 50 | 1.15 |
| Nebraska | $63,810 | $42,070 | $84,480 | 50 | 0.59 |
| Nevada | $84,570 | $29,910 | $113,520 | 170 | 1.34 |
| New Hampshire | $65,630 | $57,770 | $77,400 | 30 | 0.56 |
| New Jersey | $115,190 | $43,350 | $163,030 | 290 | 0.8 |
| New Mexico | $45,690 | $35,170 | $68,380 | 50 | 0.74 |
| New York | $87,510 | $52,620 | $157,600 | 2,050 | 2.52 |
| North Carolina | $49,150 | $29,540 | $85,140 | 170 | 0.4 |
| Ohio | $64,030 | $31,200 | $131,090 | ||
| Oregon | Data unavailable | 150 | 0.93 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $49,490 | $28,530 | $72,470 | 160 | 0.31 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,180 | $21,840 | $70,750 | 70 | 0.93 |
| South Carolina | $45,240 | $39,510 | $74,480 | ||
| Tennessee | $60,500 | $42,230 | $158,160 | 510 | 1.83 |
| Texas | $54,370 | $34,920 | $83,120 | 830 | 0.7 |
| Utah | $36,400 | $21,520 | $97,390 | 210 | 1.46 |
| Virginia | $49,920 | $26,910 | $105,240 | 120 | 0.35 |
| Washington | Data unavailable | 160 | 0.54 | ||
| Wisconsin | $46,780 | $23,200 | $76,260 | 90 | 0.36 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for sound engineering technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 11.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for sound engineering technicians
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Communications Technology/Technician CIP 10.0105
- Recording Arts Technology/Technician CIP 10.0203
- Audio Engineering Technology/Technician CIP 15.0307
- Music Technology CIP 50.0913
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
- Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
- Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
- Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
- Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
- Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made.
- Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
- Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards.
Technology skills
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Git (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Java (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Audio Engineer, Audio Operator, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Mixing Technician (Mixing Tech), Music Producer, Recording Engineer, Sound Editor, Sound Engineer, Sound Technician (Sound Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do sound engineering technicians make?
The national median annual wage for sound engineering technicians was $73,130 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,570 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $137,370. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do sound engineering technicians need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is sound engineering technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of sound engineering technicians to change -3.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay sound engineering technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Jersey ($115,190), District of Columbia ($106,630), New York ($87,510). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.