Career-PathGPS
← All education and training
Career

Sound Engineering Technicians

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipModerate pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $73,130 Median per year · $35.16/hr Most earn $37,570–$137,370

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Keep logs of recordings.
  • Tear down equipment after event completion.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Job outlook

United States
3% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 1,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Sound recording industries15.6%
  • Self-employed (their own business)11.8%
  • Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events6.3%
  • Media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers4.8%
  • Theater companies and dinner theaters3.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Sound Engineering Technician is usually reached through a certificate or apprenticeship plus about 1 to 2 years of hands-on work as an assistant or entry-level technician. Many people get started within a few years of finishing school, and no four-year degree is required.

  1. High school diploma with audio and tech classes

    4 years

    Build a base in math, physics, and computers, and get early practice with recording or sound equipment, which makes certificate programs easier to start.

  2. Certificate in audio production or sound engineering

    1-2 years

    A certificate program teaches recording, mixing, microphones, and sound system setup, and it usually includes hands-on lab or studio time that employers look for.

  3. Audio and Video Technician

    1-2 years

    Working as an entry-level technician on shows, events, or in a studio lets you practice setup, troubleshooting, and live sound under real deadlines.

  4. Sound Engineering Technician

    1-2 years

    You assemble and run sound equipment for productions such as theater, film, TV, podcasts, or sports, and you learn to mix, edit, and reproduce sound to a professional standard.

Where it can lead

  1. Broadcast Technician

    2-4 years of experience first

    You take on responsibility for keeping broadcast audio and video systems on air, which needs deeper technical knowledge and reliability under live conditions.

  2. Senior Sound Engineer

    3-5 years of experience first

    You lead sound design and mixing for larger productions, manage other technicians, and handle client decisions, which usually comes from a strong portfolio and a long track record.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take physics, math, and any audio or media production classPhysics explains how sound works, and a media class gives you hands-on time with mics, mixers, and editing software.
  • Join the theater crew or school AV teamRunning sound for school plays, assemblies, or morning announcements gives you real equipment experience.
  • Start a small podcast or music recording projectRecording, editing, and mixing your own work builds skills and gives you something to show later.
  • Volunteer at local events or community radioHelping with sound at town events or a community station teaches setup, teamwork, and working under time pressure.
  • Look for a starter job at a venue or music shopWorking at a theater, church, or event space can expose you to professional sound systems and the people who run them.

In college

  • Take courses in audio engineering, acoustics, or recordingThese classes teach mixing, microphone technique, and sound science that certificate programs and employers expect.
  • Enroll in a certificate or apprenticeship programA focused certificate or apprenticeship is the typical training route for this career and often includes hands-on lab time.
  • Join a campus radio station, theater, or music production groupWorking on real shows or broadcasts builds practical experience and professional contacts.
  • Work as a campus AV or event crew memberSetting up sound for campus events is a practical starter job that builds equipment and troubleshooting skills.
  • Seek a summer internship or freelance gigsInternships at studios, production companies, or event companies let you learn from experienced engineers and build your portfolio.

Tips for getting started

  • Keep a simple portfolio of recordings, live mixes, or podcast episodes you have worked on, since hiring managers often ask to hear your work.
  • Volunteer or work crew for school plays, concerts, and local events to get real experience with equipment and deadlines.
  • Learn basic troubleshooting, such as cables, microphones, and signal flow, because being reliable on the job matters as much as being creative.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

Related careers