Sound Engineering Technician Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Sound Engineering Technicians in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $77,850 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,570 take-home, or $4,964 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sound engineering technician salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,297
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,827
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,129
- California income tax$3,016
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,012
- Take-home pay$59,570
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Sound Engineering Technician pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,890 | $21.58 | $36,881 | $3,073 |
| 25th percentile | $50,590 | $24.32 | $41,087 | $3,424 |
| Median (50th) | $77,850 | $37.43 | $59,570 | $4,964 |
| 75th percentile | $99,720 | $47.94 | $72,642 | $6,054 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $140,510 | $67.55 | $96,640 | $8,053 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,850 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sound engineering technician's $59,570 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,454 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 5.3× the national concentration of sound engineering technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for sound engineering technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 4 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $97,510 | $72,715 | $64,600 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $94,990 | $69,816 | $60,388 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $73,140 | $56,808 | $54,837 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $77,850 | $59,570 | $52,454 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 4 metros →
Sound Engineering Technician salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $94,990
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sound engineering technician make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median sound engineering technician salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $77,850 a year, or about $37.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,590 and $99,720.
What is a sound engineering technician’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $77,850 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $59,570 a year ($4,964 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,028 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a sound engineering technician?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $73,130. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,454 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 4 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sound engineering technician afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median sound engineering technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Art Director — $137,560
- Producer and Director — $131,600
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $124,590
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $107,620
- Set and Exhibit Designer — $106,880
- Lighting Technician — $105,010
- Technical Writer — $104,000
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $103,050
- Editor — $100,050
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $96,260
- Music Director and Composer — $93,090
- Film and Video Editor — $83,210