Sound Engineering Technicians earn a median of $73,130 per year ($35.16/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 3.1% through 2035, with about 1,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 27-4014
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Sound Engineering Technician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $73,130a year, or $35.16/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $38KTop 10% $137K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -3.1%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−3.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −3.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,00015,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202515K
- Projected 203514.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 15K Projected 2035 14.6K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school32%
- Certificate20%
- Some college8%
- Associate's12%
- Bachelor's20%
- Post-master’s certificate4%
Highest education held by sound engineering technicians Segment Value High school 32% Certificate 20% Some college 8% Associate's 12% Bachelor's 20% Post-master’s certificate 4%
Also advertised as: Audio Engineer, Audio Operator, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Mixing Technician (Mixing Tech), Music Producer.
Pay
How much do Sound Engineering Technicians make?
Every sound engineering technician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$73,130
Middle half earn $49,910 to $100,280
- 10th
- $37,570
- 25th
- $49,910
- 75th
- $100,280
- 90th
- $137,370
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $37,570 |
| 25th | $49,910 |
| Median | $73,130 |
| 75th | $100,280 |
| 90th | $137,370 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $73,130
- Median hourly wage
- $35.16/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $81,390
- People employed
- 13,080
Versus all US occupations
At $73,130, Sound Engineering Technicians earn 43% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $22,150 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 7% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $137,370 or more while the bottom 10% earn $37,570, a gap of 3.7×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 47% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Jersey pays the most at $115,190, and still leads at $105,868 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Sound Engineering Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Jersey | $115,190 | $105,868 | 290 |
| 2District of Columbia | $106,630 | $97,024 | 90 |
| 3New York | $87,510 | $81,087 | 2,050 |
| 4Nevada | $84,570 | $84,588 | 170 |
| 5Maryland | $79,990 | $76,211 | 160 |
| 6California | $78,150 | $70,583 | 4,060 |
| 7Georgia | $77,010 | $79,975 | 200 |
| 8Kentucky | $74,100 | $82,188 | 60 |
| 9Illinois | $73,130 | $73,161 | 570 |
| 10Indiana | $73,130 | $78,357 | 50 |
Job outlook
Is Sound Engineering Technician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -3.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Sound Engineering Technicians | −3.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Sound Engineering Technicians to change -3.1% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 500 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,000 openings are projected each year, 6.7% of the 15,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of broadcast, sound, and video technicians is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 9,800 openings for broadcast, sound, and video technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of broadcast, sound, and video technicians varies by occupation (see table).
Getting in
How to become a Sound Engineering Technician
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically need postsecondary education. Depending on the work they do, educational requirements may vary.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as sound engineering technicians.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)32%
- Post-Secondary Certificate20%
- Bachelor's Degree20%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree12%
- Some College Courses8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 32% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 20% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 20% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 12% |
| Some College Courses | 8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Sound Engineering Technician do?
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.
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies.
Day-to-day 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.
- Synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles.
- Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment.
- Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Technicians usually work full time. They may occasionally work overtime to meet broadcast deadlines or set up for live events. Evening, weekend, and holiday work is common because most radio and television stations are on the air 24 hours a day.
Technicians who work on motion pictures may be on a tight schedule and may work additional hours to meet contract deadlines with the movie studio.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.8
- Speaking3.6
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Reading Comprehension3.3
- Writing3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Learning Strategies2.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.3 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Operations Monitoring3.3
- Operation and Control3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Coordination3.1
- Service Orientation3.1
- Systems Analysis3.1
- Time Management3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.3 |
| Operation and Control | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- File versioning software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Sound Engineering Technician?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Sound Engineering Technician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
- Realistic5.1
- Artistic4.5
- Conventional4.2
- Investigative2.7
- Enterprising2.2
- Social1.7
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Sound Engineering Technician
O*NET related occupations
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Architecture and Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician
$78,190median a year
Most earn $50K to $116K
+2.4%Associate's - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Audiovisual Equipment Installer and Repairer
$52,600median a year
Most earn $37K to $84K
+4.8%Certificate - Architecture and Engineering
More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with sound engineering technicians highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Sound Engineering Technician$73,130
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Sound Engineering Technician | $73,130 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within sound engineering technician
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Sound Engineering Technician appears on
Questions
Sound Engineering Technician: frequently asked questions
How much do Sound Engineering Technicians make?
Sound Engineering Technicians earn a median of $73,130 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 43% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $35.16/hr. The middle half earn between $49,910 and $100,280. The top 10% earn $137,370 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Sound Engineering Technician?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Sound Engineering Technicians. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 32.0% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Sound Engineering Technician a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.1% over 2025–2035, a loss of 500 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Sound Engineering Technician do?
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies. A core O*NET task: confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Desktop publishing software, Document management software.
Which states pay Sound Engineering Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Sound Engineering Technicians are New Jersey ($115,190), District of Columbia ($106,630), New York ($87,510) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Sound Engineering Technician?
O*NET scores Sound Engineering Technicians highest on the Realistic, Artistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP, INTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.