Sound Engineering Technicians Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for sound engineering technicianss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $81,390 ≈ $39/hr
National median salary $73,130
Total employment 13,080 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth -1.7%
Decline
Annual openings 1,200 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 16,900 → 16,600 (-300)
Typical entry education Postsecondary nondegree award
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- New Jersey$111,170
- District of Columbia$107,510
- New York$99,040
- California$87,550
- Massachusetts$82,510
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Utah$48,250
- Wisconsin$49,360
- Iowa$50,200
- Montana$50,320
- South Carolina$51,290
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $111,170 | $115,190 | $53 | +36.6% | 290 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $107,510 | $106,630 | $52 | +32.1% | 90 |
| 3 | New York | $99,040 | $87,510 | $48 | +21.7% | 2,050 |
| 4 | California | $87,550 | $78,150 | $42 | +7.6% | 4,060 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $82,510 | $63,250 | $40 | +1.4% | 200 |
| 6 | Tennessee | $81,800 | $60,500 | $39 | +0.5% | 510 |
| 7 | Maryland | $81,050 | $79,990 | $39 | -0.4% | 160 |
| 8 | Florida | $80,920 | $70,360 | $39 | -0.6% | 590 |
| 9 | Nevada | $78,830 | $84,570 | $38 | -3.1% | 170 |
| 10 | Georgia | $76,970 | $77,010 | $37 | -5.4% | 200 |
| 11 | Arizona | $72,410 | $66,350 | $35 | -11% | 130 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $71,980 | $74,100 | $35 | -11.6% | 60 |
| 13 | Ohio | $70,020 | $64,030 | $34 | -14% | — |
| 14 | Illinois | $69,840 | $73,130 | $34 | -14.2% | 570 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $69,810 | $72,800 | $34 | -14.2% | 60 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $68,810 | $65,630 | $33 | -15.5% | 30 |
| 17 | Missouri | $67,620 | $61,750 | $33 | -16.9% | 190 |
| 18 | Virginia | $66,070 | $49,920 | $32 | -18.8% | 120 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $65,410 | $63,810 | $31 | -19.6% | 50 |
| 20 | Kansas | $64,510 | $62,710 | $31 | -20.7% | 30 |
| 21 | Colorado | $63,590 | $60,630 | $31 | -21.9% | 170 |
| 22 | Indiana | $63,410 | $73,130 | $30 | -22.1% | 50 |
| 23 | Maine | $59,470 | $48,380 | $29 | -26.9% | 40 |
| 24 | Michigan | $58,730 | $51,840 | $28 | -27.8% | 200 |
| 25 | Texas | $58,180 | $54,370 | $28 | -28.5% | 830 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $56,640 | $55,530 | $27 | -30.4% | — |
| 27 | Idaho | $55,080 | $54,970 | $26 | -32.3% | 40 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $53,970 | $49,490 | $26 | -33.7% | 160 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $52,600 | $49,150 | $25 | -35.4% | 170 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $52,170 | $45,690 | $25 | -35.9% | 50 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $51,290 | $45,240 | $25 | -37% | — |
| 32 | Montana | $50,320 | $57,600 | $24 | -38.2% | 50 |
| 33 | Iowa | $50,200 | $57,400 | $24 | -38.3% | 60 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $49,360 | $46,780 | $24 | -39.4% | 90 |
| 35 | Utah | $48,250 | $36,400 | $23 | -40.7% | 210 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 46 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $97,510 | $101,120 | 1,960 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $94,990 | $108,850 | 460 |
| 3 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $86,610 | $80,340 | 150 |
| 4 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $83,810 | $82,490 | 380 |
| 5 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $81,840 | $77,390 | 140 |
| 6 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $79,990 | $90,620 | 240 |
| 7 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $77,850 | $84,140 | 2,820 |
| 8 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $77,420 | $89,430 | 140 |
| 9 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $76,260 | $86,270 | 40 |
| 10 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $76,050 | $88,000 | 100 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing sound engineering technicianss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Temporary Help Services | $131,090 | $126,530 | 210 |
| 2 | Employment Services | $103,270 | $113,670 | 390 |
| 3 | Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $99,260 | $108,800 | 410 |
| 4 | Motion Picture and Video Industries | $98,460 | $100,450 | 2,820 |
| 5 | Administrative and Support Services | $89,030 | $99,110 | 600 |
| 6 | Sector 56 - Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $89,030 | $99,110 | 600 |
| 7 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $83,810 | $96,330 | 1,020 |
| 8 | Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $83,810 | $86,030 | — |
| 9 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $83,810 | $96,330 | 1,020 |
| 10 | Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, & Other Media Networks & Content Providers | $82,470 | $88,930 | 710 |
| 11 | Television Broadcasting Stations | $81,190 | $82,510 | 120 |
| 12 | Broadcasting and Content Providers | $77,420 | $79,530 | 1,180 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do sound engineering technicians make in the U.S.?
The median sound engineering technicians salary in the United States is $73,130 per year (mean $81,390), and about 80% earn between $37,570 and $137,370.
How much do sound engineering technicians make per hour?
Roughly $39 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $81,390 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays sound engineering technicians the most?
New Jersey has the highest average pay for sound engineering technicians at $111,170 per year (median $115,190).
What is the job outlook for sound engineering technicians?
Employment is projected to change -1.7% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 1,200 openings per year.
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Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.
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