Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
Typical entry preparation: High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
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.
Top skills:Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionOperations Monitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Sound Engineering Technician pay by experience level
Entry level$39,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$51,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$75,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$104,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$142,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-1.7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,200
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Sound Engineering Technician salary by industry
Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries
5,440 workers
$88,000
Motion Picture and Video Industries
2,820 workers
$104,000
Sound Recording Industries
2,620 workers
$71,000
Broadcasting and Content Providers
1,180 workers
$82,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
1,020 workers
$99,500
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events
980 workers
$70,000
Performing Arts Companies
920 workers
$85,500
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, & Other Media Networks & Content Providers
710 workers
$92,000
Administrative and Support Services
600 workers
$102,500
Educational Services
560 workers
$59,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $53,520 to $73,130.
+36.6% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$39,000
Early career25th percentile
$51,500
Median50th percentile
$75,500
Experienced75th percentile
$104,000
Top earners90th percentile
$142,000
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionOperations Monitoring
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$84,000
2027$87,000
2028$90,000
2029$93,000
2030$96,500
2031$100,000
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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How much does a Sound Engineering Technician make?
The median market pay for a Sound Engineering Technician in the United States is about $84,000 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Sound Engineering Technician?
Most Sound Engineering Technician pay falls between about $51,500 (25th percentile) and $104,000 (75th percentile), with top earners above $142,000.
What does a Sound Engineering Technician do?
Core responsibilities include: confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film; and regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
Is pay for Sound Engineering Technician roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $53,520 in 2020 to $73,130 in 2025, a change of +36.6% in nominal dollars.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Sound Engineering Technician make?
The average base salary for a Sound Engineering Technician in the United States is $84,000 per year, or about $40.38 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $51,500 and $104,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media roles?
The Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media job family averages $88,500 across 45 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Sound Engineering Technician pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
