CareerFacts

All careers › Sound Engineering Technicians

Recording engineer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$73,130median pay per year, or $35.16 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $37,570lowest 10% earn less
  2. $49,91025th percentile
  3. $73,130median
  4. $100,28075th percentile
  5. $137,370top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Recording engineers are counted by BLS as sound engineering technicians, and they had a median pay of $73,130 a year[1]. Employment is projected to fall from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-3.1%[2]
Openings per year
1,000[6]
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award[7]

How much do recording engineers make?

The median pay for sound engineering technicians was $73,130 a year, or $35.16 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $81,390 a year, or $39.13 an hour[8]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].

Pay varies a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,570 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $137,370[4]. In between, the 25th percentile was $49,910 and the 75th was $100,280[4]. Per hour, the same four points were $18.06, $23.99, $48.21 and $66.04[9].

Point Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][9] $37,570 $18.06
25th percentile[4][9] $49,910 $23.99
Median[1] $73,130 $35.16
75th percentile[4][9] $100,280 $48.21
90th percentile[4][9] $137,370 $66.04

A percentile is a boundary, not a starting salary. BLS publishes percentile wages and no starting pay[10]. These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[11]. About 11.8% of these workers were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

New Jersey had the highest median at $115,190 a year, followed by the District of Columbia at $106,630 and New York at $87,510[13]. Utah was last among the published states at $36,400[13].

California had the most jobs at 4,060, then New York with 2,050, Texas with 830, Florida with 590 and Illinois with 570[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, New York-Newark-Jersey City had the highest median at $97,510[15]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont came next at $94,990[15], then Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell at $86,610[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the most jobs, 2,820[16], with a median of $77,850[16]. New York-Newark-Jersey City had 1,960 jobs[16].

Show median pay in 34 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New Jersey[13]$115,190290
District of Columbia$106,63090
New York$87,5102,050
Nevada$84,570170
Maryland$79,990160
California$78,1504,060
Georgia$77,010200
Kentucky$74,10060
Illinois$73,130570
Indiana$73,13050
Connecticut$72,80060
Florida$70,360590
Arizona$66,350130
New Hampshire$65,63030
Ohio$64,030n/a
Nebraska$63,81050
Massachusetts$63,250200
Kansas$62,71030
Missouri$61,750190
Colorado$60,630170
Tennessee$60,500510
Montana$57,60050
Iowa$57,40060
Louisiana$55,530n/a
Idaho$54,97040
Texas$54,370830
Michigan$51,840200
Virginia$49,920120
Pennsylvania$49,490160
North Carolina$49,150170
Maine$48,38040
Wisconsin$46,78090
New Mexico$45,69050
South Carolina$45,240n/a
Utah$36,400210

How to become a recording engineer

The training details here come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of broadcast, sound and video technicians[17].

High school classes in math, physics and electronics are suggested, and practical experience in a school audiovisual department can help[21][22]. A bachelor's degree is typically not required[23].

In an O*NET survey of 25 workers, 32% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 20% said a post-secondary certificate, 20% a bachelor's degree and 12% an associate's degree[24]. Employers do not usually require certification, but it may help in getting a job. Most certifications involve an exam[25].

What recording engineers do

O*NET describes the work as assembling and running equipment that records, mixes, edits or reproduces sound for music, film, television, podcasts, sports events and more[26]. Typical tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as audio engineer, mixing engineer, mastering engineer and sound editor[28].

Where they work

Technicians in the wider group usually work inside studios for radio, television, film or recording. They may also work outdoors on location, or install audio and video systems in places such as offices, arenas, hotels, schools, hospitals and homes[29]. Setting up equipment may involve heavy lifting[30].

The profile says most work full time, with occasional overtime for deadlines or live events. Evening, weekend and holiday work is common[31]. Film work can mean extra hours to meet studio deadlines[32]. The largest employer group was publishing, broadcasting and content providers, at 16%[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of sound engineering technicians to fall 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 15,000 to 14,600 jobs[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3]. These counts include the self-employed[2]. The OEWS count of about 13,080 jobs covers wage and salary work only[34].

Even so, about 1,000 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or switch fields, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.3% of workers leave the labor force and 4.8% move to another occupation[35].

BLS names productivity change as a factor: wireless technology and AI let technicians do tasks more efficiently, so the occupation's share of employment shrinks[36].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is above the all-occupations median, and the entry path is short, typically a postsecondary nondegree award plus short on-the-job training[1][5][7]. The range is wide, though, and pay depends on the state and city[4][13]. The field is small and projected to shrink, but about 1,000 openings a year are still expected[2][6]. People who like hands-on technical work with sound may find the tasks appealing[27]. Those who want steady job growth should weigh the projection[2][3].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a recording engineer make an hour?
The median was $35.16 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $39.13[1][8]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $18.06 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $66.04[9].
What degree do you need to be a recording engineer?
The typical entry education is a postsecondary nondegree award[7]. A BLS profile for the wider group says requirements range from a high school diploma to a college degree[17][18].
Is recording engineer a growing field?
Employment is projected to fall 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][3]. About 1,000 openings a year are still projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for recording engineers?
New Jersey had the highest median, $115,190 a year, followed by the District of Columbia at $106,630 and New York at $87,510[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Sound Engineering Technicians in the US was $73,130 per year and $35.16 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Sound Engineering Technicians is projected to decline 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 15,000 to 14,600 jobs (a change of -500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Sound Engineering Technicians: 10th percentile $37,570, 25th percentile $49,910, 75th percentile $100,280, 90th percentile $137,370. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,000 openings for Sound Engineering Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Sound Engineering Technicians: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Sound Engineering Technicians was $81,390 per year and $39.13 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Sound Engineering Technicians: 10th percentile $18.06, 25th percentile $23.99, 75th percentile $48.21, 90th percentile $66.04. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 11.8% of Sound Engineering Technicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Sound Engineering Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Sound Engineering Technicians jobs: California 4,060; New York 2,050; Texas 830; Florida 590; Illinois 570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Sound Engineering Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $97,510; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $94,990; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $86,610; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $83,810; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $81,840; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $79,990; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $77,850; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $77,420. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Sound Engineering Technicians jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,820 (median $77,850); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,960 (median $97,510); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 460 (median $94,990); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 450 (median $73,140); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 380 (median $83,810); Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 320 (median $71,180). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Broadcast, Sound, and Video Technicians" covers Sound Engineering Technicians together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET 27-4014.00 survey of workers (25 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 32%, Post-Secondary Certificate 20%, Bachelor's Degree 20%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 12%, Some College Courses 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET description of Sound Engineering Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Sound Engineering Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET 27-4014.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Audio Engineer, Audio Operator, Mastering Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Mixing Technician (Mixing Tech), Music Producer, Recording Engineer, Sound Editor. O*NET OnLine
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of broadcast, sound, and video technicians in 2025: Publishing, broadcasting, and content providers 16%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 13,080 people were employed as Sound Engineering Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Sound Engineering Technicians: 2.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Sound Engineering Technicians: Productivity change - share decreases as the use of wireless technology and artificial intelligence (AI) systems allow technicians to perform tasks more efficiently. BLS Employment Projections
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.