How much does a sound engineering technician make?

The median pay is $35.16 per hour — roughly $73,000 a year, with the real range running from about $18.06/hr (10th percentile) to $66.04/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What does a sound engineering technician actually do all day?

Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment. Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film. Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.

Arts & Media

Sound Engineering Technicians

Assemble and operate equipment to record, synchronize, mix, edit, or reproduce sound, including music, voices, or sound effects, for theater, video, film, television, podcasts, sporting events, and other productions.

What it pays
Sound Engineering Technicians earn a median of $35.16/hr — about $73,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $18.06/hr; the top 10% earn $66.04/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

The feel of the work

Time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 12% of sound engineering technicians are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on, creative and organized and detail-focused.

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Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a sound engineering technician make?: The median pay is $35.16 per hour — roughly $73,000 a year, with the real range running from about $18.06/hr (10th percentile) to $66.04/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a sound engineering technician?: The typical entry-level education is: Post-secondary certificate. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
What does a sound engineering technician actually do all day?: Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment. Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film. Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

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