Sound Engineering Technician Salary
Sound Engineering Technicians earn a median $73,130 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
What sound engineering technicians do
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)
- Openings per year
- 1,000
- Self-employed
- 12%
Employment of sound engineering technicians is projected to shrink 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,000 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Sound Engineering Technician take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- 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 | 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
- Los Angeles, CA — $77,850
Sound Engineering Technician salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $115,190 | +3.2% | $84,719 | $43,350 – $163,030 | 290 |
| District of Columbia | $106,630 | +5.0% | $77,749 | $61,300 – $156,000 | 90 |
| New York | $87,510 | +0.4% | $66,265 | $52,620 – $157,600 | 2,050 |
| Nevada | $84,570 | +3.5% | $68,325 | $29,910 – $113,520 | 170 |
| Maryland | $79,990 | +12.2% | $61,667 | $50,440 – $108,260 | 160 |
| California | $78,150 | +0.2% | $59,753 | $45,720 – $143,130 | 4,060 |
| Georgia | $77,010 | +46.3% | $59,633 | $35,080 – $104,540 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $74,100 | +37.0% | $58,483 | $47,950 – $81,020 | 60 |
| Illinois | $73,130 | +29.8% | $56,802 | $31,200 – $113,460 | 570 |
| Indiana | $73,130 | +26.0% | $58,149 | $44,520 – $85,040 | 50 |
| Connecticut | $72,800 | +27.6% | $57,616 | $40,580 – $85,470 | 60 |
| Florida | $70,360 | +12.9% | $58,328 | $41,060 – $140,340 | 590 |
| Arizona | $66,350 | −31.9% | $54,042 | $36,310 – $110,570 | 130 |
| New Hampshire | $65,630 | +5.2% | $54,914 | $57,770 – $77,400 | 30 |
| Ohio | $64,030 | +11.1% | $52,650 | $31,200 – $131,090 | — |
| Nebraska | $63,810 | +5.2% | $51,428 | $42,070 – $84,480 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $63,250 | +2.6% | $50,059 | $35,540 – $134,480 | 200 |
| Kansas | $62,710 | — | $49,868 | $42,600 – $107,270 | 30 |
| Missouri | $61,750 | +26.5% | $49,831 | $39,800 – $104,350 | 190 |
| Colorado | $60,630 | −8.9% | $48,937 | $40,970 – $84,970 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $60,500 | −13.6% | $50,792 | $42,230 – $158,160 | 510 |
| Montana | $57,600 | +5.1% | $46,511 | $28,080 – $67,390 | 50 |
| Iowa | $57,400 | +14.3% | $46,772 | $32,280 – $62,400 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $55,530 | +6.3% | $45,519 | $33,760 – $83,920 | — |
| Idaho | $54,970 | — | $44,543 | $32,280 – $78,870 | 40 |
| Texas | $54,370 | −8.4% | $45,866 | $34,920 – $83,120 | 830 |
| Michigan | $51,840 | +0.1% | $41,881 | $32,250 – $88,220 | 200 |
| Virginia | $49,920 | +4.9% | $40,234 | $26,910 – $105,240 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,490 | −8.3% | $40,426 | $28,530 – $72,470 | 160 |
| North Carolina | $49,150 | −14.6% | $40,220 | $29,540 – $85,140 | 170 |
| Maine | $48,380 | — | $38,969 | $42,580 – $93,230 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $46,780 | −8.2% | $38,490 | $23,200 – $76,260 | 90 |
| New Mexico | $45,690 | −22.8% | $37,895 | $35,170 – $68,380 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $45,240 | +6.8% | $36,973 | $39,510 – $74,480 | — |
| Utah | $36,400 | +10.7% | $30,755 | $21,520 – $97,390 | 210 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighting Technician | $68,060 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -4.8% |
| Broadcast Technician | $59,570 | Associate's degree | -3.1% |
| Audio and Video Technician | $58,100 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.9% |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $74,990 | Bachelor's degree | +1.3% |
| Film and Video Editor | $75,420 | Bachelor's degree | +3.7% |
| Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other | $70,720 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.6% |
| Photographer | $44,660 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.7% |
| Media and Communication Workers, All Other | $73,620 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.9% |
| Music Director and Composer | $73,710 | Bachelor's degree | +1.2% |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $72,420 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -0.1% |
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, Los Angeles, CA 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.