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Live Events & Concert Production
Live Nation, AEG Presents, MSG Entertainment
Sound Engineering Technicians
Sound engineering technicians make sure voices, music, and effects are captured and played back clearly in studios, on sets, and at live events. The work is a mix of careful setup and fast troubleshooting: one day you are placing microphones and checking signal flow, and the next you are adjusting levels in real time when something goes wrong. The tradeoff is that the job rewards a sharp ear and technical calm, but the market is small and expected to shrink slightly over the next decade.
Also known as Audio EngineerSound EngineerRecording EngineerLive Sound EngineerAudio Technician
Median Salary
$66,430
Mean $79,280
U.S. Workforce
~13K
1.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-1.7%
16.9K to 16.6K
Entry Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Sound Engineering Technicians sits in the Creative category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~13K workers, with a median annual pay of $66,430 and roughly 1.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 16.9 K in 2024 to 16.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma plus hands-on audio training, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Audio Production Assistant and can progress toward Audio Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Pro Tools, Logic Pro & DAWs, Digital Mixing Consoles & Live Sound Boards, and Microphone Placement, Patch Bays & Signal Routing, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Set up microphones, cables, and recording gear before a session or live show starts.
- Record voices, instruments, and other sounds, then watch levels so the audio stays clean.
- Mix and balance dialogue, music, and effects for concerts, broadcasts, or finished recordings.
- Turn tapes and other old recordings into digital files that can be edited or stored.
Keep exploring: more Creative careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Set up microphones, cables, and recording gear before a session or live show starts.
02 Record voices, instruments, and other sounds, then watch levels so the audio stays clean.
03 Mix and balance dialogue, music, and effects for concerts, broadcasts, or finished recordings.
04 Turn tapes and other old recordings into digital files that can be edited or stored.
05 Keep session notes so settings, takes, and file versions are easy to track later.
06 Spot equipment problems, report them, and help make sure broken gear gets repaired or backed up.
Industries That Hire
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Music Recording & Labels
Sony Music, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group
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Film, TV & Streaming Post-Production
Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount
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Radio, Podcasting & Audio Media
NPR, iHeartMedia, SiriusXM
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Corporate Events & Conference AV
Encore, Freeman, Marriott International
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for a hands-on technical job, with a median annual wage of $66,430 and a mean of $79,280.
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You can get started without years of formal schooling; the typical entry point is a postsecondary nondegree award and no prior work experience.
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The work is varied, moving between live shows, recording sessions, editing, archiving, and equipment setup instead of doing the same task all day.
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If you like both creativity and technical detail, this job lets you shape how sound feels while still working with real gear and software.
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Even with weak growth, there are still about 1.2 thousand annual openings, mostly from people leaving the occupation or moving on.
Challenges
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Employment is projected to fall from 16.9 thousand to 16.6 thousand by 2034, a drop of 1.7%, so the long-term outlook is weak.
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The occupation is small, with only about 13,050 current workers, which means fewer openings and more competition for the better jobs.
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A lot of work depends on touring schedules, show bookings, and studio budgets, so income and hours can be uneven.
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Many jobs require nights, weekends, and on-site work, and you may spend long stretches lifting gear, running cables, and fixing problems on the spot.
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Routine audio setup and editing can be standardized by software and automated tools, which can limit entry-level work and keep the career ladder fairly narrow.
Career Progression
Audio Production Assistant
0-2 years
$34K-$45K
Entry-level workers help with setup, cable runs, file organization, and basic equipment checks while learning the workflow.
Sound Engineering Technician
2-6 years
$55K-$78K
At this level, you run sessions or shows more independently, set levels, mix audio, and troubleshoot problems as they happen.
Senior Sound Engineer THIS ROLE
6-10 years
$79K-$104K
More experienced technicians handle complex productions, supervise others, and make faster judgment calls when the audio chain is under pressure.
Audio Supervisor
10+ years
$105K-$138K
Leads oversee crews, plan workflows, manage equipment budgets, and take responsibility for sound quality across larger productions.
Education Paths
High school diploma plus hands-on audio training
This is the most common path, used by 32% of workers in the role, and it often pairs classroom basics with a lot of practice on real gear.
Postsecondary certificate in audio production or sound engineering
A postsecondary certificate is also common, held by 20% of workers, and it usually focuses on microphones, mixing boards, and digital audio software.
Bachelor's degree in audio, media production, or a related field
A bachelor's degree is another common route, held by 20% of workers, and it can help when you want to compete for more selective broadcast or studio jobs.
Audio engineering certificate, apprenticeship, or short-term training
Short credentials and apprenticeship-style training can get you into the field quickly, especially if you already have access to equipment and live-production experience.
Key Skills
Technical
Pro Tools, Logic Pro & DAWs 92%
Digital Mixing Consoles & Live Sound Boards 90%
Microphone Placement, Patch Bays & Signal Routing 88%
Audio Editing, EQ, Compression & Noise Reduction 85%
Live Sound Reinforcement & Stage Monitoring 82%
Audio Archiving, File Conversion & Duplication Software 78%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingReading Comprehension Job Outlook and Trends
+-1.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 16.9K to 16.6 K over the next decade, representing -1.7% growth. Around 1.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.