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.
Also called: Audio Engineer · Audio Operator · Mastering Engineer · Mixing Engineer · Mixing Technician (Mixing Tech) · Music Producer
Median pay (national)
$66,430
$36,600–$134,980 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
13,050
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-1.7%
~1,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
Postsecondary nondegree award
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for sound engineering technicians shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $134,980 versus $36,600 at the bottom 10% — 3.7x. The median of $66,430 leaves roughly 103% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -1.7% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 1,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 38 states with released data, New Jersey pays the most for this role (median $111,580, +68% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $27,790 — a 302% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Keep logs of recordings.
- Tear down equipment after event completion.
- Synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles.
Tools & technology
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Apple macOS
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Git
- Linux
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Windows
- Oracle Java
- UNIX
- Adobe Audition
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Audio editing software
Knowledge areas
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Fine Arts
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Communications and Media
- Production and Processing
- Administration and Management