Sound Tech Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Sound technicians should acquire training from technical school, community college or college in broadcast technology, electronics or computer networking. Sound technicians typically complete vocational programs, which usually takes about a year, although there are shorter programs. Prospective technicians should take high school courses in math, physics and electronics. They learn skills from experienced technicians and supervisors on the job. Private schools also offer sound technology programs.
Training and Education
Employees often find employers are looking for a postsecondary vocational award. Sound techs, in 35% of cases, have bachelor's degree or higher. After high school, 44% of workers pursued some additional career education. Employees, in 21% of cases, had only a high school education.
Job Overview
Sound technicians use machines and equipments to record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects in recording studios, sporting arenas, theater productions, or movie and video productions. They use varied types of recording equipment, but computers are the primary tool. They set up microphones to capture sounds, use mixing boards to control the amount of input from different performers, adjust dials and move switches to change the input while the performance is on and maintain all sound equipment. They adjust the recording level, volume and tone quality to achieve the desired sound.
Job Requirements
Employers hire beginning technicians as assistants and prefer assistants who have experience as sound technicians. Experience may be from internships or volunteer work. Technicians who have built strong reputations in their field are most likely to find work. They also prefer technicians who have completed formal training programs and employees who can get along with a variety of people. They perform a variety of tasks in small stations, but at large stations their work is much more specialized, though job assignments may change from day to day. The terms “operator,” “engineer,” and “technician” often are used interchangeably to describe these jobs.
Nature of Work
Sound technicians generally work indoors in pleasant environments. But those who work on location may work outdoors in all types of weather or in other dangerous conditions. Technicians work a 40-hour week, but those working at small stations regularly work more than 40 hours a week. Technicians who work on motion pictures may be on a tight schedule and may work long hours to meet contractual deadlines. Their tasks may include consulting with performers and producers to determine the desired sound effects; using recording equipment to record speech, music, and other sounds; mixing and editing voices and music during live performances; setting up, testing and adjusting the recording equipment; maintaining recording equipment; reporting equipment problems and ensuring repairs are made.
Area Job Conditions
Sound techs -of-a-feather seem to flock to New York (New York), San Francisco (California), and Myrtle Beach (South Carolina). They are less likely to be found around San Antonio (Texas), Houston (Texas), and Riverside (California).
Compensation of workers is best in Nassau (New York), Washington (District of Columbia), and Las Vegas (Nevada), and much worse in Cincinnati (Ohio), Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), and Greenville (South Carolina).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Sound techs employed part-time are 13% of the total. Workers, in about 11% of cases, work for themselves.
Career Videos
Sound Techs by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $37,000 | 50 | -75% |
| Tucson | $33,000 | 80 | +112% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $76,000 | 2,290 | +403% |
| Sacramento | $70,000 | 70 | -28% |
| San Diego | $52,000 | 130 | -12% |
| San Francisco | $62,000 | 420 | +277% |
| San Jose | $67,000 | 90 | -10% |
| Santa Ana | $54,000 | 350 | +114% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $44,000 | 40 | +144% |
| Denver | $34,000 | 120 | -14% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | $51,000 | 130 | +103% |
| New Haven | 30 | +0% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $58,000 | 220 | -20% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $39,000 | 90 | +15% |
| Jacksonville | 50 | -25% | |
| Miami | $45,000 | 220 | +100% |
| Orlando | $36,000 | 220 | +93% |
| Tampa | $50,000 | 90 | -30% |
| West Palm Beach | $39,000 | 40 | -31% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $57,000 | 150 | -42% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $45,000 | 610 | +44% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $45,000 | 170 | +69% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $39,000 | 40 | -41% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | 30 | -27% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $48,000 | 120 | -18% |
| Bethesda | $45,000 | 70 | +9% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $55,000 | 390 | +99% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren | $50,000 | 100 | -17% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $51,000 | 90 | -55% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $33,000 | 60 | -47% |
| St Louis | $54,000 | 100 | -33% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $42,000 | 40 | -24% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $65,000 | 270 | +184% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison | $43,000 | 40 | -65% |
| Newark | $38,000 | 60 | -47% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $34,000 | 50 | +17% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $42,000 | 40 | -20% |
| Buffalo | $50,000 | 70 | +13% |
| Nassau | $66,000 | 110 | -23% |
| New York | $60,000 | 3,000 | +412% |
| Rochester | $50,000 | 70 | +24% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $46,000 | 70 | -27% |
| Greensboro | $21,000 | 40 | +2% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $33,000 | 50 | -56% |
| Cleveland | $45,000 | 60 | -48% |
| Columbus | $47,000 | 40 | -61% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $30,000 | 40 | -38% |
| Tulsa | $33,000 | 30 | -37% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $43,000 | 40 | -65% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | $41,000 | 50 | +95% |
| Philadelphia | $40,000 | 170 | -21% |
| Pittsburgh | $41,000 | 130 | +1% |
| Scranton | $33,000 | 60 | +109% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $45,000 | 60 | -4% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $36,000 | 370 | +346% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $37,000 | 110 | +25% |
| Dallas | $49,000 | 130 | -45% |
| Fort Worth | $35,000 | 50 | -48% |
| Houston | $32,000 | 110 | -63% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $43,000 | 50 | -26% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 60 | -13% | |
| Virginia Beach | $33,000 | 40 | -53% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $51,000 | 270 | +71% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | $52,000 | 60 | -36% |