How to hire a recording engineer

How to hire a recording engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step recording 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 recording engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new recording engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your recording engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a recording engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect recording engineer 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 presents recording engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Recording Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Recording Engineer	Broadcast and sound engineering technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies.	$21-64
   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
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Digital Audio
   • R
   • Music Videos
   • Analog
   • Studio Equipment
   • Live Sound
   • Microphone Placement
   • Sound Design
   • Sound Effects
   • Music Production
   • Control Console
   • Mac
   • Signal Flow
   • Audio Equipment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage PowerPoint and mixing music at the same time.
   • Prepare and run equipment during live FM broadcasts.
   • Work with ReverbNation, MP3.com, Facebook, YouTube platforms.
   • Trouble shooting software glitches in multiple DAW 's
   • Help on-site technician align Otari tape machine and SSL consoles
   • Record ADR for national TV and feature film projects.

   More recording engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, recording engineers' average salary in vermont is 56% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level recording engineers 67% less than senior-level recording engineers.
   • Certifications. A recording engineer 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 a recording engineer's salary.

   Average recording engineer salary

   $78,099yearly

   $37.55 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level recording engineer salary

   $44,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average recording engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$97,020	$47
   2	New York	$92,748	$45
   3	Illinois	$77,680	$37
   4	Georgia	$68,970	$33
   5	Florida	$68,758	$33
   6	Texas	$65,096	$31

   Average recording engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Western Digital	$131,152	$63.05
   2	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$103,265	$49.65
   3	Verint	$102,889	$49.47
   4	Amazon	$100,133	$48.14	5
   5	Flatiron Health	$87,326	$41.98
   6	PSEA	$74,451	$35.79	2
   7	WTTW	$69,110	$33.23
   8	Wave Crest Group	$67,978	$32.68
   9	Raytheon Technologies	$65,791	$31.63
   10	AdventHealth	$55,160	$26.52

4. Writing a recording engineer job description

   A job description for a recording engineer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a recording engineer job description:

   Recording engineer job description example

   Country:
   
   United States of America
   
   Location:
   
   PW102: Middletown Aircraft Rd P.O. Box 611, Middletown, CT, 06457 USA
   
   Position Role Type:
   
   Onsite
   
   Pratt & Whitney is working to once again transform the future of flight-designing, building and servicing engines unlike any the world has ever seen. And because transformation begins from within, we're seeking the people to drive it. So, calling all curious.
   
   Come ready to explore and you'll find a place where your talent takes flight-beyond the borders of title, a country or your comfort zone. Bring your passion and commitment and we'll welcome you into a tight-knit team that takes our mission personally. Channel your drive to make a difference into shaping an organization and an industry that's evolving fast to the future.
   
   Innovation through diversity of thought. At Pratt & Whitney, we believe diversity of thought enables creativity, innovation, and a foundation for inclusion. By fostering an inclusive culture, we accept a shared accountability and responsibility to recognize, sponsor, coach, hire and promote talent equally. We welcome our employees to be their whole - best - selves at work because trust, respect and integrity, are a part of our DNA.
   
   At Pratt & Whitney, the difference you make is on display every day. Just look up. Are you ready to go beyond?
   
   Job Description
   
   The Data Recording Operations And Calibration team is a part of Pratt & Whitney's Engineering, Development Operations, Test organization. This team performs a wide variety of technical tasks in support of engine instrumentation and test facility readiness for development and production testing. The organization supports structural, performance and advanced measurement data recording systems, sensor installations and calibration.
   
   Key Responsibilities:
   
   * Set up of test facilities to support engine testing.
   * Set up of instrumentation measurement systems to support engine testing.
   * Consult and coordinate with engineering and customer groups to establish requirements
   * Calibration Lab technical support, uncertainty analysis, software definition, and standards maintenance
   * Troubleshooting and calibration of devices in the test facility or lab, and operation of data acquisition systems during validation testing
   * Effectively communicate with instrumentation technicians, test engineering and operations groups to ensure requirements are fully understood and achievable.
   
   Basic Qualifications:
   
   * BS in Engineering or related field and two years of related experience or an advanced degree in engineering or a related field
   * US Citizenship required due to government contracts
   
   Preferred Qualifications:
   
   * Experience in sensor wiring, terminations, egress, signal conditioning and data acquisition system operation and troubleshooting
   * Knowledge of instrumentation types and sensor applications in the aerospace industry is desirable
   * Knowledge and use of multiple sensor types including strain gages, accelerometers, pressure transducers, thermocouples, proximity, and blade positioning optical measurement equipment
   * Demonstrate a good balance between mechanical and electrical aptitude
   * Experience in other signal acquisition or processing software
   
   Travel: 10%
   
   What is my role type?
   
   In addition to transforming the future of flight, we are also transforming how and where we work. We've introduced role types to help you understand how you will operate in our blended work environment. This role is:
   
   Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance workers, as they are essential to the development of our engines.
   
   Candidates will learn more about role type and current site status throughout the recruiting process. For onsite and hybrid roles, commuting to and from the assigned site is the employee's personal responsibility.
   
   Raytheon Technologies is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.
   
   Privacy Policy and Terms:
   
   Click on this link to read the Policy and Terms

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find recording engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit recording engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 recording engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect recording 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new recording 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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