Sound engineers, also known as recording engineers, are responsible for recording, mixing and synchronizing various sounds. These can range from voices and vocals to music and sound effects. These audio and music production professionals work in various arenas, including radio, film, TV and music production. So, how much money do they make? Well, that depends on the job duties, job location and level of training from audio engineering schools.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2011 report, pay for recording engineers varies:
- The average sound engineer made a little above $56,000 annually (that comes out to about $27 hourly)
- The median salary for all reported occupations in this industry was $46,750 annually
- The top paid 10% in the industry made more than $98,240 annually
HOW MUCH MONEY DOES A RECORDING ENGINEER MAKE BY INDUSTRY?
Pay rates for sound engineers varied greatly on the 2011 report depending on the industry:
- Performing Arts Industry – Averaged about $43,960 annually
- TV and Radio Industries – Averaged around $51,500 annually
- Music Production Industry – Averaged nearly $56,670 annually
- Video & Motion Picture Industries – Brought home average of $73,470 annually
HOW MUCH MONEY DOES A RECORDING ENGINEER MAKE BY REGION?
When it comes to pay for sound engineers, salaries also vary based on regions. The highest paid sound engineers in the US tended to be located in the West or Northwest. These are some of the regional stats for sound engineer salaries for various US areas:
- Nevada sound engineers reported highest average pay at $77,160 annually
- California ranked second highest pay on average at $74,640 annually
- New York came in third, with an average annual salary of $65,810
- Kansas and Nebraska reported to lowest average income of between $27,130 and $28,570 annually
RECORDING INDUSTRY JOB PREDICTIONS
Between 2010 and 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be an overall employment growth in the US of around 14%. When it comes to the sound engineering industry, the Bureau predicts a growth spurt of about 10% by 2020.
The music, film, TV and radio arenas will continue to grow. So, there will always be job opportunities in these fields, in various industries. And, with them being such exciting and unpredictable industries, there’s always competition for new jobs.
WHERE DO YOU START IN THE AUDIO ENGINEERING INDUSTRY?
Make sure you’re a viable candidate for the sound engineering job you go after and begin looking into audio engineering schools as soon as possible! A quality education from a good audio engineering school like F.I.R.S.T. Institute, one of the best audio engineering schools in Florida, can teach you the skills you need to succeed in the Audio and Music Production industry.
There you’ll learn what you need to get your new audio production career off the ground in the studio with instructors who care about making you successful. You won’t get our quality, hands on learning experience with passionate audio industry professionals anywhere else! Check out the Audio and Music Production program at the F.I.R.S.T. Institute audio production school today. You’re only months away from your dream career!
