Sound Engineering Technicians

27-4014.00 Zone 3 — Medium Preparation Needed

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.

Also known as: Acoustical Consultant, Acoustical Engineer, Audio DSP Engineer (Audio Digital Signal Processor Engineer), Audio Engineer, Audio Operator, Audio Recording Engineer, Audio Technician (Audio Tech), Audio Video Engineer, ...

Annual Salary

$66,430

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$47,680 25th – 75th percentile $99,950
10th percentile $36,600
90th percentile $134,980
U.S. Employment: 13,050

Job Outlook

-1.7%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Declining)

Annual Job Openings 1,200 per year (avg. 2024–2034)
Typical education: Postsecondary nondegree award
On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training

What You'd Do

  • Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
  • Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
  • Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
  • Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made.
  • Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards.
  • Synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles.
  • Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
  • Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment.
  • Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
  • Keep logs of recordings.

Top Skills

Active Listening 3.8
Speaking 3.6
Critical Thinking 3.5
Complex Problem Solving 3.4
Reading Comprehension 3.3
Judgment and Decision Making 3.3
Operation and Control 3.3
Operations Monitoring 3.3

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Computers and Electronics 4.6
Customer and Personal Service 3.9
Fine Arts 3.8
English Language 3.7
Engineering and Technology 3.7
Communications and Media 3.5
Production and Processing 3.3
Administration and Management 2.8

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

High School
32%
Certificate
20%
Bachelor's
20%
Associate's
12%
Some College
8%
Post-Master's
4%
Professional
4%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

Adobe Acrobat Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Apple macOS Autodesk AutoCAD Facebook Git Linux Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Visio Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word Oracle Java UNIX

Other Tools

Adobe Audition Adobe Premiere Pro Apple Final Cut Pro Audio editing software Avid Pro Tools Avid Technology audio visual editing software Avid Technology Pro Tools Cisco IOS Computer aided design CAD software IBM Middleware Musical instrument digital interface MIDI software Perforce software Real time operating system RTOS software

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

2.6
Attention to Detail
2.4
Dependability
1.7
Innovation
1.7
Adaptability
1.6
Achievement Orientation
1.6
Stress Tolerance
1.6
Perseverance

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Hearing Sensitivity 4.1
Oral Comprehension 4.0
Oral Expression 4.0
Near Vision 4.0
Auditory Attention 4.0
Fluency of Ideas 3.5
Selective Attention 3.5
Written Comprehension 3.4

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Working with Computers 4.9
Thinking Creatively 4.8
Making Decisions and Solving Problems 4.5
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships 4.4
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge 4.3
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates 4.2
Documenting/Recording Information 4.0
Getting Information 4.0

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

E-Mail
4.9
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
4.7
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
4.6
Level of Competition
4.5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
4.4
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
4.4
Spend Time Sitting
4.3
Telephone Conversations
4.2
Freedom to Make Decisions
4.2
Time Pressure
4.2
Contact With Others
4.1
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
4.0

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.