Career
Sound engineering technicians
Record, mix and shape sound.
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
- Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
- Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
- Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
- Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
AI
BLS now cites artificial intelligence in this occupation's outlook: “share decreases as the use of wireless technology and artificial intelligence (AI) systems allow technicians to perform tasks more efficiently.”
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on objects & tools, then creation & expression?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
Under 2 years of education after high school (postsecondary nondegree award), for a median of $73,130 a year and 1,000 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- MusicSee the degree →
- Communications Technology/TechnicianCIP 10.0105
- Recording Arts Technology/TechnicianCIP 10.0203
- Audio Engineering Technology/TechnicianCIP 15.0307
- Music TechnologyCIP 50.0913
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Audio and Video Technicians$58,100 · +3.9%
- Broadcast Technicians$59,570 · -3.1%
- Lighting Technicians$68,060 · -4.8%
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,190 · +2.4%
- Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers$52,600 · +4.8%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.