Sound Engineering Technicians: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Sound Engineering Technicians operate machines and equipment to record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects in sporting arenas, theater productions, recording studios, or movie and video productions.

• Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
• Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
• Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
• Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.

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Sound Engineering Technicians with little to no experience tend to make between $25680 and $33260 while the more experienced ones can earn over $79770 per year.

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Sound Engineering Technician is to move to a higher paying state like LA. Right now, the highest paying states for Sound Engineering Technicians are LA, CT, NY, DC and WA.

However, a higher pay at LA doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at LA might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Sound Engineering Technician is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.

We asked other Sound Engineering Technicians what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a High School Diploma followed by a Post-Secondary Certificate.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Sound Engineering Technician.

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76% of Sound Engineering Technicians said they were satisfied with their job and 42% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.

Ron Phillip

Freelance

I’ve worked as a sound engineer for several studios in Bangalore for over 5 years now. And also picked up live sound engineering gigs in Delhi and Bangalore over the year. Currently, I take up freelancing gigs and work on my own music. Live mixing for a band at the studio My typical day As … Read More

Stelios Mac

I’m Stelios Mac, I’m 21 years old and am a Live Sound Engineer based in Chania, Greece. I’ve been working as a sound engineer professionally for almost 4 years, but have been a hobbyist for almost another 6 before that. I have had the pleasure of running sound (FOH and/or monitors) for local one-off productions … Read More

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.