Sound Engineering Technician Salary in San Francisco, CA
Sound Engineering Technicians in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $94,990 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $69,816 take-home, or $5,818 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sound engineering technician salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,068
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,889
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,377
- California income tax$4,604
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,235
- Take-home pay$69,816
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Sound Engineering Technician pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,540 | $27.18 | $45,433 | $3,786 |
| 25th percentile | $77,080 | $37.06 | $59,099 | $4,925 |
| Median (50th) | $94,990 | $45.67 | $69,816 | $5,818 |
| 75th percentile | $142,940 | $68.72 | $98,043 | $8,170 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,640 | $82.52 | $114,618 | $9,551 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $94,990 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sound engineering technician's $69,816 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,388 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Francisco, CA has 2.3× 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
San Francisco, CA ranks #2 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
- Los Angeles, CA — $77,850
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sound engineering technician make in San Francisco, CA?
The median sound engineering technician salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $94,990 a year, or about $45.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,080 and $142,940.
What is a sound engineering technician’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $94,990 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $69,816 a year ($5,818 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,839 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a sound engineering technician?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $73,130. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,388 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #2 of 4 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sound engineering technician afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median sound engineering technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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