Multimedia Sound Workers


Overview

Multimedia Sound Workers

Introduction

Multimedia sound workers create the audio aspects of computer and video games. Their work is essential to a games success—adding to a games intensity and dimension and enhancing gamers playing experiences. Ironically, though, when sound workers have done their jobs well, the sound becomes such an integral part of the video game that few players notice it as a separate, painstakingly developed game element. At the start of the video game age, the technologies available limited a games sound to simple noises, such as a "pong"...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$66,000

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Employment Prospects

Fair

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Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma|Some Postsecondary Training


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Experience

Internship


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Skills

Computer|Digital Media|Performance, Music, and Acting


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Personality Traits

Conventional|Creative|Technical

Earnings

In March 2020, PayScale.com reported the average annual salary for sound designers was $51,639. Salaries ranged from $34,000 to $92,000 or more. According to the Web site AnimationArena.com, entry-level sound designers or engineers usually have starting salaries of about $50,000. Those with more than three years experience can earn $66,000 per year, and engineers with six-plus years of work exp...

Work Environment

Sound designers work in recording studios that are usually air-conditioned because of the sensitivity of the equipment. Studios may be loud or cramped, however, especially during recording sessions where many people are working in a small space. Some designers may be required to record off-site, at live concerts, for example, or other places where the recording is to take place.

The phys...

Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor does not provide information specifically about multimedia sound workers. It does, however, discuss multimedia artists and animators, for which average employment growth is expected through 2028. Although the use of sound in computer and video games is growing in importance, sound workers still make up a very small portion of professionals in the game industry. As a...