How to hire a film sound engineer

How to hire a film sound engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step film sound engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a film sound engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new film sound engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a film sound engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A film sound engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, film sound engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of film sound engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Film Sound Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Film Sound Engineer	Broadcast and sound engineering technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies.	$23-45
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62
   Sound Designer	Sound designers are audio professionals who are responsible for procuring all sound effects to be used for specific show products that can be either recorded or live. These designers are required to meet with production directors to discuss the sound design for the show and to make the cue list... Show more	$20-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sputtering
   • Thin Films
   • PVD
   • Process Control
   • CVD
   • Extrusion

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage PowerPoint and mixing music at the same time.
   • Administrate sound management system utilizing analog & digital consoles in a smaller environment.
   • Interact with actors, actresses, and members of other departments on production end of filmmaking process.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your film sound engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A film sound engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, film sound engineers' average salary in vermont is 50% less than in pennsylvania.
   • Seniority. Entry-level film sound engineers earn 49% less than senior-level film sound engineers.
   • Certifications. A film sound engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a film sound engineer's salary.

   Average film sound engineer salary

   $67,517yearly

   $32.46 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level film sound engineer salary

   $48,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average film sound engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$80,023	$38
   2	California	$79,691	$38
   3	California	$79,436	$38
   4	New Jersey	$73,309	$35
   5	California	$72,002	$35
   6	Colorado	$70,941	$34
   7	New York	$65,320	$31
   8	Texas	$60,846	$29

   Average film sound engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Micron Technology	$92,242	$44.35	1
   2	Thorlabs	$76,366	$36.71
   3	Science	$74,137	$35.64
   4	Suny Poly Sematech	$73,846	$35.50
   5	Excelitas	$68,467	$32.92
   6	FlightSafety International	$68,229	$32.80

4. Writing a film sound engineer job description

   A good film sound engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a film sound engineer job description:

   Film sound engineer job description example

   Eastman's current hiring policy encourages and prefers new hires be fully vaccinated before reporting to work in this role when possible.
   
   Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company's innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2021 revenues of approximately $10.5 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.
   Responsibilities
   
   Eastman is seeking a staff engineer at the Martinsville, VA site supporting the Performance Films business. The individual in this role will be responsible for leading technical efforts to support the manufacturing processes and involves working in cross-functional teams including operations, maintenance, engineering, quality and business leadership. Primary responsibilities include identification and implementation of improvement projects along with day-to-day support. This position reports to the site process engineering manager.
   
   * Provide day-to-day support and troubleshooting of films manufacturing processes
   * Interact with and seek feedback from operators on the manufacturing floor on a frequent basis
   * Serves as a technical subject matter expert for optical thin film coating processes.
   * Collaborate with new product development, product management, R&D, and customers to create and implement new materials / processes into large scale manufacturing
   * Act as a process engineering resource to identify and aid in execution of capital projects
   * Lead projects to implement changes to process and equipment to improve safety, quality, and productivity with the use of Lean, 6-sigma and other continuous improvement tools (including statistical analysis)
   * Facilitate root cause analysis of process upsets, equipment failures and customer complaints to identify & implement corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence
   * Maintain operational documentation of manufacturing process, asset capabilities and capacities
   * Ensure product quality specifications are appropriately established and customer fitness for use expectations are met
   * Participate in cross functional problem-solving and improvement teams at the department and division level
   * Utilize a methodical approach to problem solving and ability to recognize and implement solutions to improvement opportunities independently
   * Demonstrate strong organizational skills, detail oriented, the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and prioritize work
   * Demonstrate a bias for action mentality towards making changes that solve problems and have a positive impact on the process, products, and people
   
   Qualifications
   
   * Minimum of a BS degree in Optics, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or related STEM field
   * Postgraduate degree preferred
   
   * At least 2 years of previous experience in films manufacturing engineering or a films manufacturing technical support role
   * Demonstrated experience in thin film vapor deposition methods such as RF or DC sputtering, thermal evaporation metallization, or chemical vapor deposition
   * Experience with roll-to-roll web technology is desired
   * Experience with slitting & trimming processes of thin webs is desired
   * Knowledge of common industrial processes and testing protocols for thin coatings
   * Knowledgeable of optical metrology methods (Interferometer, Spectrometer, ellipsometry, etc.).
   * Demonstrated experience utilizing statistical methods to problem solve and evaluate complex issues desired
   
   Eastman Chemical Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law.
   
   Eastman is committed to creating a powerfully diverse workforce and a broadly inclusive workplace, where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential each day.
   
   Nearest Major Market: Roanoke
   
   Job Segment: Manufacturing Engineer, Thermal Engineering, Chemical Engineer, Construction, Coating, Engineering, Manufacturing

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right film sound engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your film sound engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit film sound engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with film sound engineer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 film sound engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect film sound engineer 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 important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new film sound engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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.)

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