Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 13,100 people employed as sound engineering technicians in the United States. The median annual salary is $53,500. Entry level employees earn approximately $27,650 per year and senior employees earn approximately $119,720 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
• Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
• Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
• Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
• Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment.
• Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made.
• Tear down equipment after event completion.
• Convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving.
• Create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction.
• Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
• Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
• Keep logs of recordings.
• 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.

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