Sound Engineering Technician salary in the U.S.
Sound Engineering Technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $73,130 a year ($35.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,080 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $137,370 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $81,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sound engineering technicians in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,570 | $18.06 |
| 25th percentile | $49,910 | $23.99 |
| Median | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| 75th percentile | $100,280 | $48.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $137,370 | $66.04 |
| Average (mean) | $81,390 | $39.13 |
Half of sound engineering technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,094.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,047.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,812.69 |
| Weekly | $1,406.35 |
| Hourly | $35.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sound Engineering Technician salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $115,190 | 290 |
| District of Columbia | $106,630 | 90 |
| New York | $87,510 | 2,050 |
| Nevada | $84,570 | 170 |
| Maryland | $79,990 | 160 |
| California | $78,150 | 4,060 |
| Georgia | $77,010 | 200 |
| Kentucky | $74,100 | 60 |
| Illinois | $73,130 | 570 |
| Indiana | $73,130 | 50 |
| Connecticut | $72,800 | 60 |
| Florida | $70,360 | 590 |
| Arizona | $66,350 | 130 |
| New Hampshire | $65,630 | 30 |
| Ohio | $64,030 | n/a |
| Nebraska | $63,810 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $63,250 | 200 |
| Kansas | $62,710 | 30 |
| Missouri | $61,750 | 190 |
| Colorado | $60,630 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $60,500 | 510 |
| Montana | $57,600 | 50 |
| Iowa | $57,400 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $55,530 | n/a |
| Idaho | $54,970 | 40 |
| Texas | $54,370 | 830 |
| Michigan | $51,840 | 200 |
| Virginia | $49,920 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,490 | 160 |
| North Carolina | $49,150 | 170 |
| Maine | $48,380 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $46,780 | 90 |
| New Mexico | $45,690 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $45,240 | n/a |
| Utah | $36,400 | 210 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,180 | 70 |
Best-paying metro areas for sound engineering technicians
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $97,510 | 1,960 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $94,990 | 460 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $86,610 | 150 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $83,810 | 380 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $81,840 | 140 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $79,990 | 240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,850 | 2,820 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $77,420 | 140 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $76,260 | 40 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $76,050 | 100 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $74,890 | 50 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $74,100 | 30 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $73,140 | 450 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $71,180 | 320 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $69,400 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most sound engineering technicians
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,820 | $77,850 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,960 | $97,510 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 460 | $94,990 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 450 | $73,140 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 380 | $83,810 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 320 | $71,180 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 240 | $79,990 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 160 | $36,400 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 150 | $86,610 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 150 | $63,440 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 150 | $68,900 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 140 | $77,420 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 140 | $61,920 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 140 | $81,840 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 140 | $61,750 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| Photographer | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Film and Video Editors | $75,420 | $36.26 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $74,990 | $36.05 |
| Broadcast Technician | $59,570 | $28.64 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other | $70,720 | $34.00 |
| Lighting Technician | $68,060 | $32.72 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-4014. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sound engineering technician make in the U.S.?
The median salary for sound engineering technicians in the U.S. is $73,130 a year, or $35.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $137,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sound engineering technicians make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of sound engineering technicians in the U.S. earn at least $137,370 a year. The top 25% earn $100,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for sound engineering technicians in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,570 a year, and a quarter of sound engineering technicians earn $49,910 or less.
How many sound engineering technicians work in the U.S.?
About 13,080 sound engineering technicians are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.