Sound Engineering Technicians Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for sound engineering technicians in the U.S. is $73,130 ($35.16 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $73,130
- Mean annual wage
- $81,390
- Median hourly wage
- $35.16
- Employment
- 13,080
13,080 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,570 | $18.06 |
| 25th percentile | $49,910 | $23.99 |
| Median (50th) | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| 75th percentile | $100,280 | $48.21 |
| 90th percentile | $137,370 | $66.04 |
Highest-paying states for sound engineering technicians
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $115,190 | 290 |
| District of Columbia | $106,630 | 90 |
| New York | $87,510 | 2,050 |
| Nevada | $84,570 | 170 |
| Maryland | $79,990 | 160 |
| California | $78,150 | 4,060 |
| Georgia | $77,010 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $74,100 | 60 |
| Illinois | $73,130 | 570 |
| Indiana | $73,130 | 50 |
Lowest-paying states
- Utah: $36,400 median annual wage
- South Carolina: $45,240 median annual wage
- New Mexico: $45,690 median annual wage
- Wisconsin: $46,780 median annual wage
- Maine: $48,380 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made.
- Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards.
- Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
- Synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles.
- Convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving.
- Tear down equipment after event completion.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Postsecondary certificate
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 2.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 14.8% |
| Some college, no degree | 27.7% |
| Associate's degree | 11.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 35.6% |
| Master's degree | 6.4% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.1% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Public Relations Specialists$74,750
- Coaches and Scouts$47,320
- Graphic Designers$62,960
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$39,390
- Producers and Directors$90,360
- Editors$77,920
- Interior Designers$67,190
- Audio and Video Technicians$58,100
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.