Occupations/27-4014.00
Sound Engineering Technicians
Assemble and operate equipment to record, synchronize, mix, edit, or reproduce sound, including music, voices, or sound effects, for theater, video, film, television, podcasts, sporting events, and other productions.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
49%
Mixed exposure
Human characteristics
56%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
61%
Mixed exposure
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
- Mostly routine
Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
- Mostly routine
Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
- 02Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
- 03Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
- 04Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
- 05Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
- 06Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.25
- Degree of automation2.00
- Time sitting4.28
- Originality (ability)3.38
- Conflict situations2.83
- Hands-on objects/tools4.40
- Outdoors / weather1.96
- Disease exposure1.46
- Decision freedom4.24
Top abilities
- Hearing Sensitivity4.12
- Oral Expression4.00
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Near Vision4.00
- Auditory Attention4.00
- Selective Attention3.50
- Fluency of Ideas3.50
- Written Comprehension3.38
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.25
- Active Listening3.75
- Writing3.12
- Speaking3.62
- Mathematics2.00
- Science1.62
- Critical Thinking3.50
- Active Learning3.12
- Learning Strategies2.50
- Monitoring3.12
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 88 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stanford University Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit | Music Technology 50.0913 | $62,400 | 4% | 96% | 1 yr $111,996 2 yr $122,038 Master's · CIP 50.09 |
Houston Community College Houston, TX · Public | Audio Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0307 | $4,300 | 100% | 24% | 1 yr $69,338 2 yr $67,899 Bachelor's · CIP 15.03 |
Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · Public | Audio Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0307 | $5,200 | 100% | 21% | 1 yr $69,338 2 yr $69,221 Bachelor's · CIP 15.03 |
Marquette University Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit | Audio Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0307 | $48,800 | 87% | 85% | 1 yr $66,915 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 15.03 |
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX · Public | Audio Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0307 | $13,200 | 63% | 83% | 1 yr $64,629 2 yr $63,005 Bachelor's · CIP 15.03 |
Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public | Audio Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0307 | $10,000 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $63,253 2 yr $63,005 Bachelor's · CIP 15.03 |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public | Audio Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0307 | $12,000 | 90% | 69% | 1 yr — 2 yr $62,260 Bachelor's · CIP 15.03 |
California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA · Public | Audio Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0307 | $7,100 | 40% | 74% | 1 yr $61,814 2 yr $61,516 Bachelor's · CIP 15.03 |
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA · Public | Audio Engineering Technology/Technician 15.0307 | $19,600 | 55% | 86% | 1 yr $50,856 2 yr $48,432 Associate · CIP 15.03 |
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX · Public | Music Technology 50.0913 | $11,700 | 31% | 88% | 1 yr $46,924 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 50.09 |
Georgia State University Atlanta, GA · Public | Music Technology 50.0913 | $9,200 | 67% | 56% | 1 yr — 2 yr $39,729 Bachelor's · CIP 50.09 |
University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA · Public | Music Technology 50.0913 | $17,400 | 64% | 83% | 1 yr $39,729 2 yr $33,993 Bachelor's · CIP 50.09 |