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Job outlook for music engineers in the United States
Are music engineer jobs in demand?
Music engineer job and salary trends over time
Music engineer jobs over time
Music engineer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 87 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 103 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 108 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 107 | 0.00% |
Average music engineer salary over time
Music engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $80,422 | $38.66 | --2.2% |
| 2024 | $82,256 | $39.55 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $78,724 | $37.85 | --6.1% |
| 2022 | $83,864 | $40.32 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $80,663 | $38.78 | +0.7% |
Music engineer jobs by state
Most common states for music engineers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 170 | 24% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 577 | 7% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 59 | 6% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 324 | 5% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 333 | 4% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 278 | 4% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 242 | 4% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 178 | 4% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,348 | 3% |
| 10 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 177 | 3% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 142 | 3% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 98 | 3% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 35 | 3% |
| 14 | Vermont | 623,657 | 21 | 3% |
| 15 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 219 | 2% |
| 16 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 188 | 2% |
| 17 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 178 | 2% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 160 | 2% |
| 19 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 145 | 2% |
| 20 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 109 | 2% |
Most common cities for music engineers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $70,994 |
Music Engineer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of music engineer experts
California State University - Los Angeles
Mercy College
University of the Pacific
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
LaGrange College
West Liberty University
Converse College
Maryville University
Bradley University
Michigan State University
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Eastern Kentucky University
Providence College
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
What general advice would you give to a Music Engineer?
Uziel Colón Ramos: Find a way in and take it. Most likely, the jobs available won’t be what you expected once you are done with school. The market can be somewhat unpredictable, and the music industry is an ever-changing one. However, there is an opportunity waiting for you; you must look for it. Apply to the jobs you want and to ones that are in the vicinities. Then say yes! Once you get the new job jitters, go back, and review your notes from school, ask a friend, or use online resources to better prepare you for your first few days. Get ready to impress them, but don’t forget kindness and professionalism. Also, you will have an incredible source of knowledge in friends and family; take them out for a coffee and pick their brain. You will be surprised how many people will lend a hand if you ask them. Technology has taken communication to another level, but still nothing replaces the effectiveness of a face-to-face meeting.
What Music Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Uziel Colón Ramos: Many processes will start to be automated as AI becomes more prevalent in the music industry. Start using it in your musical endeavors and keep up to date with its progress. Be willing to change and adapt. Music writing, composing, and publishing will continue to be important as many visual medias (and even apps and software) will continue to be produced and will need new music. Also, production and artist/brand development will continue to be strong as the market continues to be decentralized. There’s also no money to be made in music sales for the ones at the end of the ladder, so live music performances (in person or virtually) is where is at.
What will help Music Engineers increase their earning potential?
Uziel Colón Ramos: Make sure that you acquire as many skills as possible, and don’t stop learning once you get a job. This way you will be ready to tackle anything that comes your way. You need to be ready to wear many hats in the music universe; long are the days when you only focused on one thing. This will also give you the opportunity to have extra income by having a second job where you consult or get hired for small projects.
What general advice would you give to a Music Engineer?
Sam Stauff: Say yes to every opportunity in music / music production. Every gig and person you meet in the field will lead to more work if you do a good job. Say yes, ask questions if you don't know how to do something, show up on time and with a great attitude and you can't fail! Read manuals do the research on whatever the gig is!
What Music Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sam Stauff: Audio production used to be just audio but now we are seeing visual arts become a part of the producer's role. Video editing, social media, WebDesign, merch posters you will need to be able to do all of that for yourself if you are an artist. If you can help your artists do these things as well you will become more valuable.
What will help Music Engineers increase their earning potential?
Sam Stauff: Salary is always tricky when entering the music production field. It can be freelance and change from month to month. Live sound, sports sound and film/ tv sound are great places to start to make money. If you are and artist or want to work in a music studio it can take a little longer to make money. Your passion and resume will be your greatest ally!
What Music Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Benom Plumb: Maximizing salary potential when starting a career is certainly possible if someone has more experience than their entry-level peers. For example, if someone worked live shows consistently through all four years of college, they are much more likely to maximize the starting salary with an experienced resume.
What will help Music Engineers increase their earning potential?
Benom Plumb: The music industry is built on trusting relationships, so having soft / people skills will always be #1. Aside from that, it really depends on the sector of the music industry. Staying ahead of the curve on AI developments is definitely at the top of the list, whether you’re on the creative side or business side of music. Also being skilled in industry standard technology specific to each sector (like DAW’s for creatives, MasterTour for tour management, or Quickbooks for business managers).
David Elke
What general advice would you give to a Music Engineer?
David Elke: Diversify your skills. Create a portfolio find people you can work with and make projects together. network-network-network. Attend conventions. Build real relationships off-line. Use technology but keep a human connection.
What Music Engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
David Elke: Entrepreneurial skills. Building community. Editing and mixing for film and video. All aspects of live performance Including live sound, production, and the integration of technology.
What will help Music Engineers increase their earning potential?
David Elke: Most of what you do in the field of music will be independent work so diversify your skills, Build and maintain contacts and raise your level of knowledge and expertise so that you can deliver the best product. Your work Is your calling card.
Dr. Brandon Vaccaro
Associate Teaching Professor of Music Coordinator, Sound Recording Technology University of Massachusetts LowellUniversity of Massachusetts - Lowell
Music
What general advice would you give to a Music Engineer?
Dr. Brandon Vaccaro: Specifically in music technology and sound recording, there is a lot of buzz about AI, particularly AI tools that can facilitate workflows. Rather than replace creatives in the field, we will likely see these tools used by creatives as part of a streamlined workflow.
Also, immersive mixing is very much in vogue, with a strong push from Apple and others to increase the amount of available content. It remains to be seen whether this will be a lasting trend or another flash in the pan.
What will help Music Engineers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Brandon Vaccaro: Specifically in music technology and sound recording, one usually needs a diverse set of skills to survive the early stage of one's career. Most of the work opportunities available at the beginning of a career will not be sufficient to provide a livable wage, so you need to be able to tap multiple revenue streams. Later, one needs to find the one or two things at which they excel. In other words, one needs to be a jack or jill of all trades to survive the first decade of a career, but one needs to strive for mastery of something to survive the second and subsequent decades.
Dr. Mitchell Turner Ph.D.
Professor of Music, Coordinator of Digital Creative Media & Film, Coordinator of MusicLaGrange College
Music, Digital Creative Media and Film
What skills stand out on Music Engineer resumes?
Dr. Mitchell Turner Ph.D.: A written resume is less important than a good sizzle reel or Spotify Playlist highlighting examples of your work. In the written resume, you might want to list the DAWs in which you are proficient (Logic, ProTools, Ableton Live, etc.), also list the instruments you play. Being fluent in at least one DAW (Logic, ProTools, Ableton Live) is critical. However, you should be able to work in all three. You might highlight your artist coaching ability.
What soft skills should all Music Engineers possess?
Dr. Mitchell Turner Ph.D.: Be able to communicate with artists and their representatives. Make the artist feel comfortable in the studio. Be on time. Be able to deliver what you promise. Reply to email/text promptly.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Music Engineers?
Dr. Mitchell Turner Ph.D.: Fluency in at least one DAW (Logic, ProTools, Ableton Live) and is functional in the others. Be able to fill tracks out with multiple instruments. Clean up audio tracks (i.e., remove pops, clicks, breathing, etc.).
What skills will help Music Engineers earn the most?
Dr. Mitchell Turner Ph.D.: Being able to connect with talent. Producers should understand technology, how to use it, and be able to play an instrument themselves. The piano is best, but guitar/bass/drums/voice is also useful.
Dr. Matthew Harder
Professor, Director of Music TechnologyWest Liberty University
Department of Music and Theater
What skills stand out on Music Engineer resumes?
Dr. Matthew Harder: The most impressive credential on a Music Producer's resume will be the list of projects and artists you've worked with. This is also the most challenging for a young and inexperienced student who has just graduated. That's why it's so important to be open to collaborations and be proactive when opportunities arise. In a university setting, some of the best opportunities occur outside of class - a graphic design student needs music for an animation they're working on, a music student wants to record audition material, etc. Keeping track of these projects is a great way to start building your professional resume.
What soft skills should all Music Engineers possess?
Dr. Matthew Harder: Do your best to be positive and accommodating while still remaining true to your own ideals about music. Disagreements will still occur, however. The old saying, "the customer is always right," is a good starting point, but you can also offer suggestions based on your own experience. Also, network, network, network.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Music Engineers?
Dr. Matthew Harder: Make it your job to know at least a little bit about everything. You will also need to be able to learn new gear/software/techniques quickly on the job.
What skills will help Music Engineers earn the most?
Dr. Matthew Harder: That depends on your career goals, but the most important skill is adaptability. Take the gigs that come along. Do the extra work to impress someone in your chosen field. Meet as many people as you can and be friendly. Finally, be a good musician. Being able to perform music in some capacity will serve you well throughout your career. Gigging is an excellent "side-hustle" to complement your studio work, freelance composing, etc., etc.... even if you have a full-time job!
Christopher Vaneman
Director of the Petrie School of Music; Associate Professor of FluteConverse College
Converse College’s Petrie School of Music
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Music Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Christopher Vaneman: Our music education majors, who have been preparing to teach music in school classrooms, are doing fine: flexibility is of the essence for them, since they need to be comfortable teaching online and accommodate themselves to social distancing requirements. But there are plenty of jobs out there for them.
The same is true of music therapists: they're having to adapt all the ways they interact with clients, but they're finding work both in the southeast and throughout the country.
Performers, songwriters, and composers are having a tougher time with it, thanks to the pandemic. Established groups and artists who had already established an online presence have been able to successfully monetize that presence, but younger artists entering the field have found themselves in a temporary holding pattern. They're like a bunch of airliners circling around a crowded airport, waiting for a chance to access a runway.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Music Engineers to find work opportunities?
Christopher Vaneman: As far as place, performers and composers have been pouring out of Brooklyn and Manhattan for more than six months now. "Place" is online in 2020 and 2021. All those with the online skills to prepare audiences for themselves in '21-'22 will find audiences all over the country waiting for them, and eager to gather in concert halls again.
Scott Lyle
Director of the Music Program, Assistant Professor of MusicMaryville University
College of Arts & Sciences
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Music Engineers?
Scott Lyle: My assessment is no. Will the graduates remember and be forever affected by the impact of COVID-19? - Yes undoubtedly. But will the pandemic make our graduates less resilient? - No, I believe they have indelible foundations and a strong drive to succeed and influence their respective futures as well as the future of our global society.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Music Engineers?
Dr. David Vroman: Music is a strong reflection of our daily lives through all kinds of interactions, so the isolation students have had to endure will help them to value many activities that were quite often taken for granted. Collaborative music-making as well as traditional family gatherings will be looked at in a more vital and positive way for years to come. (Don't some say you don't know what you have until it is taken away?) Young people who emerge from the pandemic with a positive attitude and relentless work ethic will be the ones who help all of us overcome the difficulties in the music fields. It won't be easy but it has never been easy.
What type of skills will young Music Engineers need?
Dr. David Vroman: Successful young graduates will not only need the expertise and experience required for their field of study, they will also need to be passionate collaborators and creators. Successful music careers, regardless of the field, are built on day-to-day success that continues to grow over time. Those who embrace creativity and new problem-solving methods will be attractive whether they are going to be teaching, performing, composing or working in the music industry.
Anonymous Professor
Director of Career Services and Music EntrepreneurshipMichigan State University
College of Music
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Music Engineer job market given the pandemic?
Anonymous Professor : It's hard to talk about a monolithic job market in music because there are so many different facets of the industry. Because the music industry is based so much around live performance, many of the trends in the job market depend upon how swiftly the U.S. can return to safe, in-person performances and whether arts organizations can engender consumer confidence to return to large, in-person gatherings.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Music Engineers to find work opportunities?
Anonymous Professor : Typically opportunities are concentrated around urban areas, but the answer to this depends on what field you are in. For instance, many jazz musicians find the bulk of opportunities in New York City. Recording tends to be concentrated around Nashville and Atlanta. Film and studio work is most prevalent in Los Angeles and Seattle. However, the pandemic has taught us that many creative products can be produced from anywhere.
Dr. Carolyn Sanders
Professor of MusicUniversity of Alabama in Huntsville
Department of Music
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Music Engineers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Carolyn Sanders: Landing a job in the music field has always required that one be particularly flexible in connection to job location. This is true to an even greater degree in the current environment. As related to the jobs listed above, some of the largest metropolitan areas, such as Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Nashville, Austin, and Atlanta, stand out as providing the most optimum opportunities for well-qualified musicians.
Dr. Bernardo Scarambone
Professor of Music Piano CoordinatorEastern Kentucky University
School of Music
What experience really stands out on Music Engineer resumes?
Dr. Bernardo Scarambone: Depends on the job, some experiences are more valuable than others. In other words, a resume geared toward a teaching position will value more teaching experiences, while a performance position will value past concerts, and so on. So a student must collect all of those experiences throughout their tenure at school. I always tell my students to experience playing for a choir, make some chamber music, enter a competition, play for a retirement home, sight-read some hymns in a church, and many more. In closing, the experience that stands out on resumes is having experiences - LOTS OF THEM.
What experience really stands out on Music Engineer resumes?
Catherine Gordon: Of our four majors who graduated last spring, three received a degree in music education and one a degree in music performance. In many ways, these four students represent almost all of our music majors. Two of our graduates in music education found jobs. One is teaching in the Marist School System in Atlanta, Georgia, and the other is teaching elementary general music and Portuguese in a private Catholic School in Massachusetts. All of our graduates in music education, in fact, find jobs right out of college, unless they decide to go on to graduate school.
Our third music education student is currently pursuing a master's degree in Music and Wellbeing at the University of Leeds, England. The fourth graduate in music is pursuing a master's degree in Vocal Performance. We've had other majors who have gone on to law school, medical school, and Ph.D. programs in music and other fields.
What stands out on the resumes of all our students - what they all have in common - is a firm foundation in the liberal arts. Not only do our students score higher than most students from around the country on their music education certification exams, but all our students have learned to write well, communicate clearly, and think critically through PC's liberal arts curriculum. In other words, their liberal arts background armed them with skills that have helped them negotiate the world beyond Providence College. Their music studies have also equipped them with the necessary skills to pursue advanced degrees from the best music schools and conservatories in the United States. Several of our students have gone on to enjoy careers in music performance, specifically opera and early music performance (historically informed music studies), music pedagogy, and in the academic areas of music history and theory.
How do you envision technology impacting Music Engineers in the next 5 years?
Catherine Gordon: Technology has already impacted the field of music in extremely significant ways and will continue to do so. For this reason, we have devised a minor and a major in Music Technology and Production, which are in the process of being approved, we hope, by the Faculty Senate and the president of the College.
Today, and in the future, music and technology can hardly exist separately from one another. Modern musicians use a diverse assortment of acoustic, electronic, and digital technologies to compose, perform, record, edit, and analyze music. These days, a successful career as a twenty-first century musician includes, not only composing and arranging, but also live and studio performance, audio engineering/editing, and mastering, music synthesis, and programming, as well as most or all of the business aspects related to music. A successful career in music needs to combine creative, collaborative, and specific technical skills, such as media writing, audio engineering, audio production and post-production, sound editing for film and multimedia, audio mastering, signal processing, and sound design.
This semester, our knowledge of music technology and access to various programs has made it possible for our students to perform for each other by recording themselves and transmitting their performances online. Next semester, we are going to initiate a recital series by "bringing in" electronically professional performers of all kinds. This is only possible through our ability to use and access technology.
How do you envision technology impacting Music Engineers in the next 5 years?
Sam Friend: As much as I love technology, and it is my profession, I believe we are in a time where technology is forced upon people. With every new invention, there is a point of overuse, and I believe Covid is exploiting that. I'm going to say, "When" this is over, there's a strong possibility that people will have a greater appreciation for human interaction, and the popularity for a more organic approach to music will spike. With that said, I think it's very wise for every musician to become functional with music technology as a means of being self-sufficient in producing their own content. I do believe content creating is as close to a future-proof occupation as I can come up with.
What experience really stands out on Music Engineer resumes?
Sam Friend: I think a strong cover letter explaining your mindset and passion for what you do is every bit, if not more important than a resume. If you're a student, odds are you don't have that much professional experience, and nothing looks worse than a fluffed out resume. People can see right through that. Whatever you do on a resume, make it inviting, unique, and reflective of your personality. Lastly, including an easily accessible link to your portfolio is a good idea too. If you don't have a portfolio, make one!