Audio Recording Engineers
Overview
Introduction
Audio recording engineers oversee the technical end of recording. They operate the controls of the recording equipment—often under the direction of a music producer—during the production of music recordings; film, television, and radio productions; and other mediums that require sound recording. Recording engineers monitor and operate electronic and computer consoles to make necessary adjustments, and solve technical problems as they occur during a recording session. They make sure that the equipment is in optimal working order and ...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
The median annual income for sound engineering technicians was approximately $59,430 in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. At the low end of the scale, about 10 percent of these workers made less than $36,160. The highest paid 10 percent made $132,940 or more. Fifty percent of sound engineering technicians earned between $45,820 and $94,550.
Salaries vary based on emplo...
Work Environment
Recording studios are often comfortable places to work. They are usually air-conditioned because of the sensitivity of the equipment. They may be loud or cramped, however, especially during recording sessions where many people are working in a small space. The work is not particularly demanding physically (except when recording engineers must move equipment), but there may be related stress dep...
Outlook
Employment of broadcast, sound, and video technicians is expected to grow about as fast as the average of other professions through 2032, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. New hardware and software is rapidly changing the way many recording engineers perform their jobs, making the entire audio recording process easier. These technological advancements will negatively affect job prospec...