Find Grad Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Sound Engineering Technician

Find Schools Near

All About Sound Engineering Technicians

Sound Engineering Technician Job Description 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.

List of Sound Engineering Technician Job Duties

  • Synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles.
  • 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.
  • Convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving.
  • Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
  • Create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction.

Sound Engineering Technician Skills

These are the skills Sound Engineering Technicians say are the most useful in their careers:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Types of Sound Engineering Technician Jobs

  • Video Editor
  • Mechanical Sound Technician
  • Film Recordist
  • Disc Recordist
  • Systems Engineer

Is There Going to be Demand for Sound Engineering Technicians?

There were about 17,000 jobs for Sound Engineering Technician in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,100 new jobs for Sound Engineering Technician by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,700 yearly job openings in this field.

undefined

The states with the most job growth for Sound Engineering Technician are Washington, Georgia, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in New Mexico, Nebraska, or Minnesota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Sound Engineering Technician

The salary for Sound Engineering Technicians ranges between about $25,680 and $117,600 a year.

undefined

Sound Engineering Technicians who work in Connecticut, Louisiana, or Washington, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Sound Engineering Technicians in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $39,140
Colorado $52,990
Connecticut $87,420
District of Columbia $79,410
Florida $56,010
Georgia $62,640
Hawaii $42,230
Illinois $60,500
Iowa $54,020
Kentucky $53,490
Louisiana $88,610
Maryland $51,670
Massachusetts $57,110
Michigan $65,540
Minnesota $42,840
Missouri $48,080
Nevada $57,010
New Jersey $55,570
New York $82,030
North Carolina $51,060
Ohio $48,060
Oregon $43,180
Pennsylvania $45,540
South Carolina $49,210
Tennessee $56,940
Texas $59,810
Utah $30,240
Virginia $53,780
Washington $77,020
Wisconsin $58,930

What Tools do Sound Engineering Technicians Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Sound Engineering Technicians may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Git
  • Data entry software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
  • Linux
  • Facebook
  • UNIX
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • Apple macOS
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite
  • VMWare

How to Become a Sound Engineering Technician

Education needed to be a Sound Engineering Technician:

undefined

How Long Does it Take to Become a Sound Engineering Technician?

undefined

Who Employs Sound Engineering Technicians?

undefined

The table below shows the approximate number of Sound Engineering Technicians employed by various industries.

undefined

References:

Image Credit: Joalpe via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Graduate Schools Near You

Our school finder matches students with accredited graduate schools across the U.S. for free.