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The differences between audio engineers and audio technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an audio engineer and an audio technician. Additionally, an audio engineer has an average salary of $55,853, which is higher than the $51,473 average annual salary of an audio technician.
The top three skills for an audio engineer include video production, audio systems and audio visual. The most important skills for an audio technician are wireless microphones, video equipment, and audio systems.
| Audio Engineer | Audio Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $55,853 | $51,473 |
| Hourly rate | $26.85 | $24.75 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 1,750 | 30,951 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An audio engineer is a trained professional who specializes in working with the mechanics of recording, mixing, and reproducing sound. Audio engineers work with clients such as record producers, musicians, and artists to record the sound they are making and manipulate the equalizer, the compression, and the gates when mixing. They must possess excellent skills in operating recording equipment as well as maintain them. Audio engineers can also work in different audio fields that can include church audio, live performances, and internet radio.
An audio technician is a person who works in a variety of media fields and broadcasting and is responsible for capturing audio signals. They are involved in maintaining audio equipment, setup, speakers and sound mixer, and everything from the cables and microphones to the monitor. Also, audio technicians repair equipment that is faulty to continue recording with minimal disruption to the recording session. They are needed for live production venues, recording studios, television, radio broadcasts, and worship spaces. An audio technician works under a sound engineer who handles the creative process and final mixing involved with audio production.
Audio engineers and audio technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Audio Engineer | Audio Technician | |
| Average salary | $55,853 | $51,473 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $102,000 | Between $30,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | - |
| Best paying company | Meta | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an audio engineer and an audio technician in terms of educational background:
| Audio Engineer | Audio Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Music | Music |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Johns Hopkins University |
Here are the differences between audio engineers' and audio technicians' demographics:
| Audio Engineer | Audio Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7% | Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |