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
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
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 #1 of 1 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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 1 metros →
About the job: 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.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.1% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
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 #1 of 1 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
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $103,050
- Editor — $100,050
- Film and Video Editor — $83,210
- Interior Designer — $80,000
- Public Relations Specialist — $79,860
- Graphic Designer — $72,400
- Audio and Video Technician — $64,900
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $48,900