Top 15 cities for sound engineering technicians by average salary
| San Francisco, CA | $108,850 |
|---|---|
| New York, NY | $101,120 |
| Nashville, TN | $94,530 |
| Washington, DC | $90,620 |
| Boston, MA | $89,430 |
| Portland, OR | $88,000 |
| Buffalo, NY | $86,270 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $84,140 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $82,490 |
| Baltimore, MD | $80,860 |
| Atlanta, GA | $80,340 |
| Sacramento, CA | $78,620 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $77,390 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $74,750 |
| Orlando, FL | $71,140 |
Map: Sound Engineering Technicians salary by metro area
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Sound Engineering Technicians salary by state
New Jersey pays sound engineering technicians the most statewide, $111,170 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $111,170 | $115,190 | 290 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Washington, D.C. | $107,510 | $106,630 | 90 | 1 | $90,620 | $90,620 |
| New York | $99,040 | $87,510 | 2,050 | 2 | $101,120 | $86,270 |
| Oregon | n/a | n/a | 150 | 1 | $88,000 | $88,000 |
| California | $87,550 | $78,150 | 4,060 | 5 | $108,850 | $67,810 |
| Massachusetts | $82,510 | $63,250 | 200 | 1 | $89,430 | $89,430 |
| Minnesota | n/a | n/a | 400 | 1 | $82,490 | $82,490 |
| Tennessee | $81,800 | $60,500 | 510 | 3 | $94,530 | $57,750 |
| Maryland | $81,050 | $79,990 | 160 | 1 | $80,860 | $80,860 |
| Florida | $80,920 | $70,360 | 590 | 1 | $71,140 | $71,140 |
| Nevada | $78,830 | $84,570 | 170 | 1 | $77,390 | $77,390 |
| Georgia | $76,970 | $77,010 | 200 | 1 | $80,340 | $80,340 |
| Arizona | $72,410 | $66,350 | 130 | 1 | $74,750 | $74,750 |
| Kentucky | $71,980 | $74,100 | 60 | 1 | $69,600 | $69,600 |
| Ohio | $70,020 | $64,030 | n/a | 2 | $59,270 | $53,330 |
| Illinois | $69,840 | $73,130 | 570 | 1 | $70,300 | $70,300 |
| Connecticut | $69,810 | $72,800 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New Hampshire | $68,810 | $65,630 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Missouri | $67,620 | $61,750 | 190 | 1 | $68,470 | $68,470 |
| Virginia | $66,070 | $49,920 | 120 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nebraska | $65,410 | $63,810 | 50 | 1 | $65,290 | $65,290 |
| Kansas | $64,510 | $62,710 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado | $63,590 | $60,630 | 170 | 1 | $63,600 | $63,600 |
| Indiana | $63,410 | $73,130 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Maine | $59,470 | $48,380 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Michigan | $58,730 | $51,840 | 200 | 2 | $62,650 | $52,770 |
| Texas | $58,180 | $54,370 | 830 | 3 | $66,880 | $57,200 |
| Louisiana | $56,640 | $55,530 | n/a | 1 | $56,720 | $56,720 |
| Idaho | $55,080 | $54,970 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $53,970 | $49,490 | 160 | 2 | $67,310 | $53,540 |
| North Carolina | $52,600 | $49,150 | 170 | 2 | $53,620 | $52,640 |
| New Mexico | $52,170 | $45,690 | 50 | 1 | $51,190 | $51,190 |
| South Carolina | $51,290 | $45,240 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Montana | $50,320 | $57,600 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Iowa | $50,200 | $57,400 | 60 | 1 | $52,010 | $52,010 |
| Wisconsin | $49,360 | $46,780 | 90 | 1 | $54,900 | $54,900 |
| Utah | $48,250 | $36,400 | 210 | 2 | $62,700 | $45,140 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,140 | $35,180 | 70 | 1 | $39,380 | $39,380 |
Sound Engineering Technicians salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $108,850 | $94,990 | $52.33 | 460 |
| New York, NY | $101,120 | $97,510 | $48.62 | 1,960 |
| Nashville, TN | $94,530 | $71,180 | $45.45 | 320 |
| Washington, DC | $90,620 | $79,990 | $43.57 | 240 |
| Boston, MA | $89,430 | $77,420 | $43.00 | 140 |
| Portland, OR | $88,000 | $76,050 | $42.31 | 100 |
| Buffalo, NY | $86,270 | $76,260 | $41.48 | 40 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $84,140 | $77,850 | $40.45 | 2,820 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $82,490 | $83,810 | $39.66 | 380 |
| Baltimore, MD | $80,860 | $74,890 | $38.87 | 50 |
| Atlanta, GA | $80,340 | $86,610 | $38.63 | 150 |
| Sacramento, CA | $78,620 | $63,720 | $37.80 | 70 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $77,390 | $81,840 | $37.21 | 140 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $74,750 | $66,360 | $35.94 | 90 |
| Orlando, FL | $71,140 | $68,900 | $34.20 | 150 |
| Chicago, IL | $70,300 | $73,140 | $33.80 | 450 |
| Riverside, CA | $70,020 | $60,670 | $33.66 | 80 |
| Louisville, KY | $69,600 | $74,100 | $33.46 | 30 |
| St. Louis, MO | $68,470 | $61,750 | $32.92 | 140 |
| San Diego, CA | $67,810 | $63,020 | $32.60 | 140 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $67,310 | $54,200 | $32.36 | 120 |
| Austin, TX | $66,880 | $63,440 | $32.15 | 150 |
| Omaha, NE | $65,290 | $63,810 | $31.39 | 30 |
| Memphis, TN | $63,900 | $48,050 | $30.72 | 40 |
| Denver, CO | $63,600 | $60,060 | $30.58 | 80 |
| Provo, UT | $62,700 | $69,400 | $30.14 | 40 |
| Detroit, MI | $62,650 | $54,900 | $30.12 | 80 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $59,270 | $53,780 | $28.49 | n/a |
| Knoxville, TN | $57,750 | $46,200 | $27.77 | 40 |
| Houston, TX | $57,550 | $61,920 | $27.67 | 140 |
| San Antonio, TX | $57,200 | $61,740 | $27.50 | 40 |
| New Orleans, LA | $56,720 | $56,120 | $27.27 | n/a |
| Milwaukee, WI | $54,900 | $55,090 | $26.39 | 30 |
| Raleigh, NC | $53,620 | $61,110 | $25.78 | 40 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $53,540 | $52,060 | $25.74 | 40 |
| Cleveland, OH | $53,330 | $47,860 | $25.64 | n/a |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $52,770 | $47,800 | $25.37 | 30 |
| Charlotte, NC | $52,640 | $44,790 | $25.31 | 70 |
| Des Moines, IA | $52,010 | $57,400 | $25.01 | 40 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $51,190 | $45,690 | $24.61 | 50 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $45,140 | $36,400 | $21.70 | 160 |
| San Juan, PR | $39,380 | $33,950 | $18.93 | 60 |
Related jobs
- Audio and Video TechniciansU.S. average $64,630
- Broadcast TechniciansU.S. average $67,960
- PhotographersU.S. average $55,410
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and FilmU.S. average $83,210
- Film and Video EditorsU.S. average $86,130
- Lighting TechniciansU.S. average $78,380
- Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All OtherU.S. average $81,040
Sound Engineering Technicians salary: questions
Where do sound engineering technicians make the most money?
In San Francisco, CA, with an average of $108,850 a year, among the 42 metro areas we cover.
What is the average sound engineering technicians salary in the U.S.?
$81,390 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $73,130, so half of sound engineering technicians earn more than that and half less.
What salary should sound engineering technicians ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of sound engineering technicians nationwide earn between $49,910 (25th percentile) and $100,280 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays sound engineering technicians the most?
New Jersey, with a statewide average of $111,170 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is sound engineering technicians pay the lowest?
San Juan, PR, at $39,380 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-4014.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.