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. Excludes “Audio and Video Technicians” (27-4011).
National median · BLS
$73,130
▲ +10.09%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$81,390
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
13,080
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Sound Engineering Technicians
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$37,570
25th
$49,910
Median (50th)
$73,130
75th
$100,280
90th — top pay
$137,370
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Sound Engineering Technicians
BLS projects employment of sound engineering technicians to decline 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 1,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
15,000 → 14,600
-500 jobs
Projected change
-3.1%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
11.8% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What sound engineering technicians do
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.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Sound Engineering Technicians, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $73,130.
