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.Salary by State
| State Name | Employment | Annual Salary | Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 80 | $79,040 | $38.00 | |
| Arizona | 40 | $52,310 | $25.15 | |
| California | 3,450 | $77,320 | $37.17 | |
| Colorado | 170 | $56,420 | $27.12 | |
| Connecticut | 50 | $79,150 | $38.05 | |
| District of Columbia | 50 | $81,100 | $38.99 | |
| Florida | 580 | $50,500 | $24.28 | |
| Georgia | 160 | $81,370 | $39.12 | |
| Illinois | 340 | $54,350 | $26.13 | |
| Indiana | 60 | $69,980 | $33.64 | |
| Kentucky | 70 | $27,950 | $13.44 | |
| Louisiana | 90 | $52,560 | $25.27 | |
| Maryland | 280 | $48,720 | $23.43 | |
| Massachusetts | 150 | $79,360 | $38.16 | |
| Michigan | 130 | $72,730 | $34.96 | |
| Minnesota | 490 | $68,160 | $32.77 | |
| Missouri | $57,810 | $27.80 | ||
| New Jersey | 270 | $90,720 | $43.61 | |
| New Mexico | 100 | $50,020 | $24.05 | |
| New York | 1,160 | $93,470 | $44.94 | |
| North Carolina | 100 | $42,410 | $20.39 | |
| Ohio | 110 | $46,830 | $22.51 | |
| Oklahoma | 70 | $46,770 | $22.49 | |
| Oregon | 150 | $52,230 | $25.11 | |
| Pennsylvania | 120 | $49,580 | $23.84 | |
| South Carolina | 60 | $38,730 | $18.62 | |
| Tennessee | 640 | $52,380 | $25.19 | |
| Texas | 690 | $59,870 | $28.78 | |
| Utah | 280 | $31,570 | $15.18 | |
| Virginia | 240 | $39,220 | $18.86 | |
| Washington | 140 | $70,600 | $33.94 | |
| Wisconsin | 70 | $44,550 | $21.42 |
Education
The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.
A program that generally prepares individuals to function as workers and managers within communications industries. Includes instruction in business economics; basic management; principles of interpersonal and mediated communications; radio, television, and digital media production; and related aspects of technology and communications systems.
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the production of sound recordings as finished products or as components of film/video, broadcast, live, or mixed media productions. Includes instruction in sound equipment operation and maintenance; music, dialogue, and sound effects recording; soundtrack editing; dubbing and mixing; sound engineering; tape, disk, and CD production; digital recording and transmission; amplification and modulation; and working with producers, editors, directors, artists, and production managers.
A program of study that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the mixing, recording, and production of music. Includes instruction in acoustics, audio mixing, audio production, audio recording, computer composition of music, music theory, digital devices, and sound technology.
A program that focuses on the creative aspects of the blending of music and technology; and that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the composition, recording, synthesis, and performance of music; audio-visual production; scoring for film and multimedia; and software and multimedia development. Includes instruction in music theory, music history, composition, acoustics, recording technology, computer composition, electronic music synthesis, technology-based performance, 3D sound and spatial audio, and music business and law.
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$67,360 per yearNational average salaryModerateJob growth rate
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Postsecondary nondegree awardTypical education requirement
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Short-term on-the-job trainingTypical on-the-job training requirement
Educational Attainment
The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as sound engineering technicians.
- Less than high school 2%
- High school graduate 14%
- College dropout 24%
- Associate’s degree 14%
- Bachelor’s degree 39%
- Master’s degree 6%
- Doctorate degree 1%
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