Life As a Sound Engineering Technician
Career 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.
Sound Engineering Technician Responsibilities
- 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.
- Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
- Tear down equipment after event completion.
- Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
- Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment.
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What Every Sound Engineering Technician Should Know
When polled, Sound Engineering Technicians say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Related Job Titles
- Musical Engineer
- Sound Mixer
- Audio Recording Engineer
- Audio Operator
- Sound Editor
Job Outlook for Sound Engineering Technicians
In the United States, there were 17,000 jobs for Sound Engineering Technician in 2016. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,700 job openings in this field each year.
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.
Do Sound Engineering Technicians Make A Lot Of Money?
The salary for Sound Engineering Technicians ranges between about $25,680 and $117,600 a year.
Sound Engineering Technicians who work in Connecticut, Louisiana, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Sound Engineering Technicians make in each U.S. state?
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 & Technology 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
- UNIX
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Apple macOS
- Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite
- Microsoft operating system
How do I Become a Sound Engineering Technician?
Are there Sound Engineering Technicians education requirements?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Sound Engineering Technicians Work
Below are examples of industries where Sound Engineering Technicians work:
References:
Image Credit: Joalpe via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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