Post job

How to hire an audio technician

Audio technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring audio technicians in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire an audio technician is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new audio technician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an audio technician, step by step

To hire an audio technician, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire an audio technician:

Here's a step-by-step audio technician hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an audio technician job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new audio technician
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
jobs
Post an audio technician job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the audio technician you need to hire. Certain audio technician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect audio technician also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list shows salaries for various types of audio technicians.

    Type of Audio TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    Audio TechnicianBroadcast and sound engineering technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies.$14-42
    Video CoordinatorA video coordinator normally works with sports teams to help them curate video footage of their games and training sessions. One important aspect of their job to travel away with the team for their games... Show more$11-30
    VideographerA videographer specializes in shooting and editing high-definition videos of different events, making them presentable to clients. They are primarily responsible for having their video equipment, coordinating with clients to learn any preferences or particular requests, capturing and recording from the best angle, and producing results quickly and accurately... Show more$14-29
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Wireless Microphones
    • Video Equipment
    • Audio Systems
    • Live Events
    • Analog
    • AV
    • Control Room
    • Audio Production
    • Sound Equipment
    • Live Audio
    • A/V
    • Mac
    • Pro Tools
    • PA
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage and maintain the wireless system, network, servers, and desktop PCs.
    • Prepare Dj equipment, check sound quality, and also assist clients w/ request.
    • Edit promos for abc network programing.
    • Interact with host to ensure conference run smoothly and efficiently.
    • Set up sound gear and mix audio for CNN guest appearances and show tapings.
    • Record for rebroadcast on KHYBER TV (Pakistan), Shabob Radio.net (Yemen).
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your audio technician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An audio technician can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, audio technicians' average salary in hawaii is 52% less than in connecticut.
    • Seniority. Entry-level audio technicians 66% less than senior-level audio technicians.
    • Certifications. An audio technician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an audio technician's salary.

    Average audio technician salary

    $51,473yearly

    $24.75 hourly rate

    Entry-level audio technician salary
    $30,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025
  4. Writing an audio technician job description

    An audio technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an audio technician job description:

    Audio technician job description example

    For over 30 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Our most recent game, The Last of Us Part II, has received over 300 Game of the Year awards and three of our games are among the top 10 highest scored games on the PlayStation 4. As a part of the Naughty Dog legacy, you'll be continuing the development of extraordinary and enduring experiences for a broad, global range of audiences.

    From the earliest days of “Jak & Daxter” to “The Last of Us Part II” and beyond, audio has been, and remains, a cornerstone of our game development. The Audio Core Tech programmer primarily works with the Sound, Dialogue, and Music teams to develop technologies, tools, and pipelines; they also collaborate with engineers in other departments. The goal is to create first-rate game audio experiences that elevate storytelling in games to new levels. The ideal candidate is an excellent general programmer with strong 3D math skills who is passionately dedicated to the world of audio.

    Responsibilities:

    • Tackling complex problems: Design, develop, and support audio technology in our production pipeline, from authoring tools, to asset management and conditioning pipeline, down to the supporting runtime game systems
    • Work with and enable dialogue, sound, and music designers to create assets throughout all stages of production, with an eye on constantly improving creation workflows, user experience, and performance of our tools and technologies
    • Navigate and constantly improve an extensive code base

    Requirements & Skills:

    • Extensive experience in using C++ or C# in any of the following applications: level editor, art prototype catalogue/database, animation/cinematic editor, material/shader editor, DSP plug-ins, build tools, lighting tools or equivalent software
    • Excellent 3D math skills (especially linear algebra and vector math)
    • B.S. in Computer Science and/or Mathematics or equivalent work experience

    Bonus Skills: (Optional)

    • Experience in the audio domain (e.g., music performance, composition, mixing, audio middleware, DSP processing, acoustics, etc.)
    • Experience with JavaScript and web development stacks
    • Experience using DAW applications (e.g., Pro Tools, Reaper, Logic, Nuendo, etc) or non-linear video editors (Media Composer, Final Cut, Adobe Premiere)

    As part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates should expect to be given a technical interview.

    Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category. We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.

    #LI-LP1

  5. Post your job

    To find the right audio technician for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with audio technicians they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit audio technicians who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your audio technician job on Zippia to find and recruit audio technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit audio technicians, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new audio technician

    Once you've decided on a perfect audio technician candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire an audio technician?

Hiring an audio technician comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting audio technicians involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of audio technician recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

You can expect to pay around $51,473 per year for an audio technician, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for audio technicians in the US typically range between $14 and $42 an hour.

Find better audio technicians in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring audio technicians FAQs

Search for audio technician jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs