How Much Does an Audio Engineering Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$73,130
Sound engineering technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $73,130 a year, or $35.16 an hour. Half of sound engineering technicians earn more than $73,130 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $137,370.
Pay percentiles for sound engineering technicians
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18.06 | $37,570 |
| 25th | $23.99 | $49,910 |
| 50th (median) | $35.16 | $73,130 |
| 75th | $48.21 | $100,280 |
| 90th | $66.04 | $137,370 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Sound Engineering Technicians (SOC 27-4014). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for sound engineering technicians
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $115,190 | $55.38 | +58% |
| District of Columbia | $106,630 | $51.26 | +46% |
| New York | $87,510 | $42.07 | +20% |
| Nevada | $84,570 | $40.66 | +16% |
| Maryland | $79,990 | $38.46 | +9% |
| California | $78,150 | $37.57 | +7% |
| Georgia | $77,010 | $37.02 | +5% |
| Kentucky | $74,100 | $35.62 | +1% |
| Illinois | $73,130 | $35.16 | 0% |
| Indiana | $73,130 | $35.16 | 0% |
| United States | $73,130 | $35.16 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many sound engineering technicians are there?
BLS counts about 13,080 sound engineering technicians employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in California (4,060), New York (2,050) and Texas (830).
The mean (average) annual wage is $81,390, higher than the median of $73,130.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,094
- Biweekly
- $2,813
- Weekly
- $1,406
- Daily (8 hours)
- $281
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do sound engineering technicians make an hour?
The median hourly wage for sound engineering technicians is $35.16. The middle 50% earn between $23.99 and $48.21 an hour.
Which state pays sound engineering technicians the most?
New Jersey has the highest median wage for sound engineering technicians at $115,190, +58% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for sound engineering technicians?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of sound engineering technicians earn less than $37,570 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.