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Best states for an audio engineer
Quoted expert
Jared Wilson
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Audio engineer opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for audio engineers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for audio engineers.Although there are abundant audio engineer jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the Northeast. Oregon is the best state in the country for audio engineer jobs.
Oregon is the best state for jobs for audio engineers, and Rhode Island is the worst. The most common pay in Oregon is $89,865, while the median pay in Rhode Island is $39,638.We found that the Northeast is best for audio engineers, and the West is the worst. Novato, CA is the best city in the country for audio engineer jobs, where as Oregon is the best state in the country.
10 best states for audio engineers in 2025
1. Oregon
Total audio engineer jobs: 160 Average annual salary: $89,865 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
2. Washington
Total audio engineer jobs: 330 Average annual salary: $74,807 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 1.71
3. California
Total audio engineer jobs: 1,387 Average annual salary: $76,099 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.79
4. Virginia
Total audio engineer jobs: 535 Average annual salary: $71,117 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 2.15
5. Alaska
Total audio engineer jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $85,829 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
6. Arizona
Total audio engineer jobs: 175 Average annual salary: $62,883 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
7. Michigan
Total audio engineer jobs: 169 Average annual salary: $61,147 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 0.82
8. Pennsylvania
Total audio engineer jobs: 156 Average annual salary: $75,860 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 0.51
9. Idaho
Total audio engineer jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $61,996 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
10. New Jersey
Total audio engineer jobs: 138 Average annual salary: $68,826 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 0.66
Audio engineer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an audio engineer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an audio engineer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $89,865 | $47,000 | 4,142,776 | 160 |
| 2 | Washington | $74,807 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 330 |
| 3 | California | $76,099 | $38,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,387 |
| 4 | Virginia | $71,117 | $36,000 | 8,470,020 | 535 |
| 5 | Alaska | $85,829 | $48,000 | 739,795 | 16 |
| 6 | Arizona | $62,883 | $32,000 | 7,016,270 | 175 |
| 7 | Michigan | $61,147 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 169 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $75,860 | $40,000 | 12,805,537 | 156 |
| 9 | Idaho | $61,996 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 29 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $68,826 | $36,000 | 9,005,644 | 138 |
| 11 | Utah | $57,069 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 86 |
| 12 | Ohio | $61,143 | $32,000 | 11,658,609 | 149 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $59,451 | $31,000 | 10,273,419 | 197 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $61,439 | $32,000 | 1,815,857 | 18 |
| 15 | Alabama | $54,115 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 108 |
| 16 | New York | $57,533 | $31,000 | 19,849,399 | 356 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $56,236 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 119 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $51,235 | $28,000 | 579,315 | 16 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $55,674 | $29,000 | 4,684,333 | 44 |
| 20 | Florida | $52,607 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 398 |
| 21 | Indiana | $51,631 | $27,000 | 6,666,818 | 131 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $52,986 | $28,000 | 5,795,483 | 79 |
| 23 | Georgia | $52,571 | $28,000 | 10,429,379 | 215 |
| 24 | Illinois | $52,394 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 266 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $52,302 | $28,000 | 4,454,189 | 41 |
| 26 | Texas | $50,181 | $26,000 | 28,304,596 | 514 |
| 27 | Montana | $53,473 | $29,000 | 1,050,493 | 13 |
| 28 | Maine | $54,030 | $32,000 | 1,335,907 | 13 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $51,184 | $28,000 | 5,024,369 | 66 |
| 30 | Colorado | $48,021 | $26,000 | 5,607,154 | 240 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $51,254 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 35 |
| 32 | Delaware | $40,119 | $21,000 | 961,939 | 62 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $44,514 | $24,000 | 1,920,076 | 49 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $49,896 | $26,000 | 2,984,100 | 18 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $47,620 | $24,000 | 2,088,070 | 30 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $48,300 | $27,000 | 869,666 | 10 |
| 37 | Iowa | $47,474 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 46 |
| 38 | Maryland | $39,276 | $20,000 | 6,052,177 | 316 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $38,865 | $20,000 | 693,972 | 175 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $46,693 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 61 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $47,585 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 7 |
| 42 | Massachusetts | $38,209 | $21,000 | 6,859,819 | 265 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $41,036 | $22,000 | 3,004,279 | 46 |
| 44 | Nevada | $41,270 | $20,000 | 2,998,039 | 36 |
| 45 | Missouri | $45,584 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 60 |
| 46 | Connecticut | $40,225 | $22,000 | 3,588,184 | 62 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $37,269 | $24,000 | 1,427,538 | 17 |
| 48 | Kansas | $44,500 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 27 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $36,124 | $20,000 | 1,342,795 | 35 |
| 50 | Vermont | $32,353 | $18,000 | 623,657 | 18 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | $39,638 | $22,000 | 1,059,639 | 17 |
Highest paying states for audio engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. Audio Engineer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $89,865 |
| 2 | Washington | $74,807 |
| 3 | California | $76,099 |
| 4 | Virginia | $71,117 |
| 5 | Alaska | $85,829 |
| 6 | Arizona | $62,883 |
| 7 | Michigan | $61,147 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $75,860 |
| 9 | Idaho | $61,996 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $68,826 |
| 11 | Utah | $57,069 |
| 12 | Ohio | $61,143 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $59,451 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $61,439 |
| 15 | Alabama | $54,115 |
| 16 | New York | $57,533 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $56,236 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $51,235 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $55,674 |
| 20 | Florida | $52,607 |
| 21 | Indiana | $51,631 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $52,986 |
| 23 | Georgia | $52,571 |
| 24 | Illinois | $52,394 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $52,302 |
| 26 | Texas | $50,181 |
| 27 | Montana | $53,473 |
| 28 | Maine | $54,030 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $51,184 |
| 30 | Colorado | $48,021 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $51,254 |
| 32 | Delaware | $40,119 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $44,514 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $49,896 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $47,620 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $48,300 |
| 37 | Iowa | $47,474 |
| 38 | Maryland | $39,276 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $38,865 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $46,693 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $47,585 |
| 42 | Massachusetts | $38,209 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $41,036 |
| 44 | Nevada | $41,270 |
| 45 | Missouri | $45,584 |
| 46 | Connecticut | $40,225 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $37,269 |
| 48 | Kansas | $44,500 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $36,124 |
| 50 | Vermont | $32,353 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | $39,638 |
Expert opinions on the best states for audio engineers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for audio engineers to find work opportunities?
Jared Wilson
Assistant Professor and Faculty Coordinator, East Tennessee State University
Within the field of land surveying and related employment opportunities, work is available. However, in my experience, work may not be in the exact location a person wishes to live. So, a move may be necessary, or potentially traveling to where the work is located. Should a graduate, or person for that matter, want to work, work is available.
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Updated January 8, 2025