Arts, design, media and sports
Sound engineering technician
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.
Median pay
$73,130
Growth to 2035
−3%
declining
Openings a year
1,000
Time to qualify*
13 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Sound engineering technician
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Sound engineering technician: 72% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
- Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
- Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
- Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made.
- Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
- Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards.
Also called: Audio Engineer · Audio Operator · Mastering Engineer · Mixing Engineer · Mixing Technician (Mixing Tech) · Music Producer · Recording Engineer · Sound Editor
Outlook and AI
Sound engineering technicians held 15,000 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 14,600 by 2035 (−3%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Productivity change - share decreases as the use of wireless technology and artificial intelligence (AI) systems allow technicians to perform tasks more efficiently.
Compare with
- Sound engineering technician vs. Audio and video technicians
- Sound engineering technician vs. Broadcast technician
- Sound engineering technician vs. Lighting technician
- Sound engineering technician vs. Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
- Sound engineering technician vs. Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers
- Sound engineering technician vs. Calibration technologists and technicians
- Sound engineering technician vs. Producers and directors
- Sound engineering technician vs. Camera operators, television, video, and film
- Sound engineering technician vs. Film and video editors
- Sound engineering technician vs. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment