Sound Engineering Technicians in Washington
Want to work as a Sound Engineering Technicians in Washington? Here’s what you need to know. 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. Excludes “Audio and Video Technicians” (27-4011).
What do Sound Engineering Technicians Make in Washington?
For sound engineering technicians working in Washington, the typical annual salary is $110,950 per year (or about $53.34/hour).Annual wages span from $58,380 at the 10th percentile to $165,170 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $58,380 | $28.07 |
| 25th percentile | $79,300 | $38.13 |
| Median (50th) | $110,950 | $53.34 |
| 75th percentile | $137,500 | $66.10 |
| 90th percentile | $165,170 | $79.41 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Washington compared to the national average — is 1.16, suggesting that sound engineering technicians are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, sound engineering technicians earn a median of $66,427 per year ($31.94/hour), exceeding the Washington median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 295,507 sound engineering technicians across the United States. In Washington alone, around 350 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 160 sound engineering technicians.
Top Washington Metros for Sound Engineering Technicians
The largest metro-area employers of sound engineering technicians in Washington.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 290 | $119,600 |
Top States for Sound Engineering Technicians Employment
View the states that employ the most sound engineering technicians work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 3,800 |
| New York | 1,690 |
| Florida | 800 |
| Illinois | 700 |
| Tennessee | 500 |
| Ohio | 480 |
| Washington | 350 |
| New Jersey | 320 |
| Utah | 320 |
| Texas | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | 300 |
| Missouri | 300 |
| Michigan | 250 |
| Arizona | 250 |
| Maryland | 220 |
| North Carolina | 220 |
| Georgia | 180 |
| Massachusetts | 170 |
| Nevada | 160 |
| Colorado | 160 |
Highest-Paying States for Sound Engineering Technicians
The highest-paying states for sound engineering technicians.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $111,580 |
| Washington | $110,950 |
| District of Columbia | $101,550 |
| Arizona | $97,380 |
| New York | $87,180 |
| Nevada | $81,720 |
| California | $78,020 |
| Alabama | $77,420 |
| Maryland | $71,310 |
| Tennessee | $69,990 |
Skills
Key sound engineering technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for sound engineering technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Sound Engineering Technicians typically:
- 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.
- Keep logs of recordings.
- Tear down equipment after event completion.
- Synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles.
- Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment.
Work Activities
- Working with Computers
- Thinking Creatively
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Scheduling Work and Activities
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe InDesign
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Audiovisual Communications
- Communications Technology
- Music
- Electronics Engineering
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Careers similar to sound engineering technicians include:
- Software Developers
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Robotics Technicians
Also Known As
Acoustical Consultant, Acoustical Engineer, Audio DSP Engineer (Audio Digital Signal Processor Engineer), Audio Engineer, Audio Operator, Audio Recording Engineer, Audio Technician (Audio Tech), Audio Video Engineer, Disc Recordist, Dub Room Engineer, Film Recordist, Film Sound Coordinator, Film Sound Engineer, Mastering Engineer, Mechanic Sound Technician (Mechanic Sound Tech).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 27-4014.00
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