Sound Engineering Technician Salary
Sound Engineering Technicians earn a median $73,130 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
U.S. median
$73,130
$35.16 per hour
Range
$37,570 – $137,370
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
13,080
across the U.S.
Sound Engineering Technician take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$60,277
per year · effective tax rate 17.6%
$5,023Monthly
$2,512Twice a month
$2,318Every 2 weeks
$28.98Hourly
- Federal income tax$7,259
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,534
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,060
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$60,277
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,570 | $18.06 | $32,367 |
| 25th percentile | $49,910 | $24.00 | $42,283 |
| Median (50th) | $73,130 | $35.16 | $60,277 |
| 75th percentile | $100,280 | $48.21 | $79,377 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $137,370 | $66.04 | $105,158 |
Best cities for sound engineering technicians (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $97,510 | $72,715 | $64,600 | 1,960 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $94,990 | $69,816 | $60,388 | 460 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $73,140 | $56,808 | $54,837 | 450 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $77,850 | $59,570 | $52,454 | 2,820 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $97,510
- San Francisco, CA — $94,990
- Los Angeles, CA — $77,850
- Chicago, IL — $73,140
Sound Engineering Technician salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $115,190 | $84,719 | $43,350 – $163,030 | 290 |
| District of Columbia | $106,630 | $77,749 | $61,300 – $156,000 | 90 |
| New York | $87,510 | $66,265 | $52,620 – $157,600 | 2,050 |
| Nevada | $84,570 | $68,325 | $29,910 – $113,520 | 170 |
| Maryland | $79,990 | $61,667 | $50,440 – $108,260 | 160 |
| California | $78,150 | $59,753 | $45,720 – $143,130 | 4,060 |
| Georgia | $77,010 | $59,633 | $35,080 – $104,540 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $74,100 | $58,483 | $47,950 – $81,020 | 60 |
| Illinois | $73,130 | $56,802 | $31,200 – $113,460 | 570 |
| Indiana | $73,130 | $58,149 | $44,520 – $85,040 | 50 |
| Connecticut | $72,800 | $57,616 | $40,580 – $85,470 | 60 |
| Florida | $70,360 | $58,328 | $41,060 – $140,340 | 590 |
| Arizona | $66,350 | $54,042 | $36,310 – $110,570 | 130 |
| New Hampshire | $65,630 | $54,914 | $57,770 – $77,400 | 30 |
| Ohio | $64,030 | $52,650 | $31,200 – $131,090 | — |
| Nebraska | $63,810 | $51,428 | $42,070 – $84,480 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $63,250 | $50,059 | $35,540 – $134,480 | 200 |
| Kansas | $62,710 | $49,868 | $42,600 – $107,270 | 30 |
| Missouri | $61,750 | $49,831 | $39,800 – $104,350 | 190 |
| Colorado | $60,630 | $48,937 | $40,970 – $84,970 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $60,500 | $50,792 | $42,230 – $158,160 | 510 |
| Montana | $57,600 | $46,511 | $28,080 – $67,390 | 50 |
| Iowa | $57,400 | $46,772 | $32,280 – $62,400 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $55,530 | $45,519 | $33,760 – $83,920 | — |
| Idaho | $54,970 | $44,543 | $32,280 – $78,870 | 40 |
| Texas | $54,370 | $45,866 | $34,920 – $83,120 | 830 |
| Michigan | $51,840 | $41,881 | $32,250 – $88,220 | 200 |
| Virginia | $49,920 | $40,234 | $26,910 – $105,240 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,490 | $40,426 | $28,530 – $72,470 | 160 |
| North Carolina | $49,150 | $40,220 | $29,540 – $85,140 | 170 |
| Maine | $48,380 | $38,969 | $42,580 – $93,230 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $46,780 | $38,490 | $23,200 – $76,260 | 90 |
| New Mexico | $45,690 | $37,895 | $35,170 – $68,380 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $45,240 | $36,973 | $39,510 – $74,480 | — |
| Utah | $36,400 | $30,755 | $21,520 – $97,390 | 210 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sound engineering technician make?
The national median salary for sound engineering technicians is $73,130 a year ($35.16 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,570 and the top 10% earn over $137,370. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays sound engineering technicians the most?
New Jersey has the highest median pay at $115,190. After taxes and local prices, New York, NY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many sound engineering technicians are there in the U.S.?
About 13,080 people work as sound engineering technicians nationwide.