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Audio engineer salary
Average audio engineer salary
$55,853
Understanding the Audio Engineer Salary
The salary of an audio engineer can vary significantly based on various factors including location, years of experience, and industry specialization. As of October 2025, the average salary for an audio engineer is $55,853 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at lower pay, while experienced engineers can earn significantly more.
For instance, audio engineers working in major cities often see higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. States like California and New York are known for offering some of the highest salaries in this field.
Moreover, certain roles such as sound designers and studio managers tend to command higher compensation. Gaining specialized skills or certifications can also enhance earning potential. Overall, the audio engineering career offers diverse opportunities ranging from live sound engineering to studio recording, making it a promising choice for those passionate about sound.
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Where can an Audio Engineer earn more?
Audio engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average audio engineer salary by state
The highest-paying states for audio engineers are Oregon, Alaska, and California. The lowest average audio engineer salary states are Rhode Island, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for audio engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $89,865 | $43.20 |
| 2 | Washington | $74,807 | $35.96 |
| 3 | California | $76,099 | $36.59 |
| 4 | Virginia | $71,117 | $34.19 |
| 5 | Alaska | $85,829 | $41.26 |
| 6 | Arizona | $62,883 | $30.23 |
| 7 | Michigan | $61,147 | $29.40 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $75,860 | $36.47 |
| 9 | Idaho | $61,996 | $29.81 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $68,826 | $33.09 |
| 11 | Utah | $57,069 | $27.44 |
| 12 | Ohio | $61,143 | $29.40 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $59,451 | $28.58 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $61,439 | $29.54 |
| 15 | Alabama | $54,115 | $26.02 |
| 16 | New York | $57,533 | $27.66 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $56,236 | $27.04 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $51,235 | $24.63 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $55,674 | $26.77 |
| 20 | Florida | $52,607 | $25.29 |
| 21 | Indiana | $51,631 | $24.82 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $52,986 | $25.47 |
| 23 | Georgia | $52,571 | $25.27 |
| 24 | Illinois | $52,394 | $25.19 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $52,302 | $25.15 |
| 26 | Texas | $50,181 | $24.13 |
| 27 | Montana | $53,473 | $25.71 |
| 28 | Maine | $54,030 | $25.98 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $51,184 | $24.61 |
| 30 | Colorado | $48,021 | $23.09 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $51,254 | $24.64 |
| 32 | Delaware | $40,119 | $19.29 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $44,514 | $21.40 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $49,896 | $23.99 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $47,620 | $22.89 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $48,300 | $23.22 |
| 37 | Iowa | $47,474 | $22.82 |
| 38 | Maryland | $39,276 | $18.88 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $38,865 | $18.69 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $46,693 | $22.45 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $47,585 | $22.88 |
| 42 | Massachusetts | $38,209 | $18.37 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $41,036 | $19.73 |
| 44 | Nevada | $41,270 | $19.84 |
| 45 | Missouri | $45,584 | $21.92 |
| 46 | Connecticut | $40,225 | $19.34 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $37,269 | $17.92 |
| 48 | Kansas | $44,500 | $21.39 |
| 49 | New Hampshire | $36,124 | $17.37 |
| 50 | Vermont | $32,353 | $15.55 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | $39,638 | $19.06 |
Highest paying cities for audio engineers
The highest-paying cities for audio engineers are Novato, CA, Seattle, WA, and Pittsburgh, PA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novato, CA | $92,335 | $44.39 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $76,871 | $36.96 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh, PA | $70,776 | $34.03 |
| 4 | Belleville, NJ | $68,674 | $33.02 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $64,497 | $31.01 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $62,062 | $29.84 |
| 7 | Westland, MI | $61,272 | $29.46 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $58,065 | $27.92 |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,295 | $27.06 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $52,994 | $25.48 |
| 11 | Miami, FL | $52,980 | $25.47 |
| 12 | Savannah, GA | $52,713 | $25.34 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $50,856 | $24.45 |
| 14 | Colorado Springs, CO | $48,173 | $23.16 |
| 15 | Baltimore, MD | $39,379 | $18.93 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $38,858 | $18.68 |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $38,107 | $18.32 |
Audio engineer salary details
An audio engineer's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $102,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an audio engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $102,000 | $8,500 | $49 |
| 75th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| Average | $55,853 | $4,654 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying audio engineer jobs
The highest paying types of audio engineers are studio engineer, engineer, and mixing engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actor | $53,377 | $4,448 | $25.66 | 218 |
| Audio Visual Technician | $43,529 | $3,627 | $20.93 | 15,387 |
| Sound Designer | $71,949 | $5,996 | $34.59 | 50,235 |
| Audio Technician | $51,473 | $4,289 | $24.75 | 30,951 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Sound Engineer | $52,197 | $4,350 | $25.09 | 6,923 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for audio engineers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael Rudisill
Department Head and Professor of Engineering Technology, Northern Michigan University
Top companies hiring audio engineers now:
Which companies pay audio engineers the most?
Audio engineer salaries at Meta and Apple are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average audio engineer salary at companies like Microsoft and Advanced Systems Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta | $168,433 | $80.98 |
| 2 | Apple | $145,585 | $69.99 |
| 3 | Microsoft | $141,739 | $68.14 |
| 4 | Advanced Systems Group | $136,497 | $65.62 |
| 5 | Micron Technology | $125,551 | $60.36 |
| 6 | CSR Technology Holdings Inc. | $123,149 | $59.21 |
| 7 | American Water | $118,741 | $57.09 |
| 8 | Kenneth Copeland Ministries | $112,731 | $54.20 |
| 9 | 2k | $108,776 | $52.30 |
| 10 | Zoom Video Communications | $107,710 | $51.78 |
| 11 | Exeter Government | $107,677 | $51.77 |
| 12 | Ford Motor | $104,737 | $50.35 |
| 13 | Capgemini | $101,009 | $48.56 |
| 14 | Global Atlantic Financial Group Limited | $100,453 | $48.29 |
| 15 | Activision Blizzard | $96,777 | $46.53 |
| 16 | Motorola Solutions | $95,653 | $45.99 |
| 17 | SAIC | $94,953 | $45.65 |
| 18 | Matrix Service Company | $92,716 | $44.58 |
| 19 | Amazon | $91,883 | $44.17 |
| 20 | NBCUniversal | $91,577 | $44.03 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Audio engineer salary trends
The average audio engineer salary has risen by $7,065 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average audio engineer earned $48,788 annually, but today, they earn $55,853 a year. That works out to a 0% change in pay for audio engineers over the last decade.
Compare audio engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average audio engineer salary over time
Compare audio engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Audio engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,900 | $26.85 | -2.3% |
| 2024 | $57,100 | $27.46 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $54,700 | $26.29 | -6.5% |
| 2022 | $58,200 | $28.00 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | $56,000 | $26.93 | +0.7% |
Recently added audio engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nbcuniversal | Audio Engineer | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $114,785 |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College | Staff Audio Engineer (Music) | Kansas City, KS | 06/27/2025 | $67,765 |
| University of Colorado | Audio Engineer | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/26/2025 | $47,000 |
| Convene | A1 Audio Engineer, Event Production | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $104,350 |
| Monumental Sports & Entertainment | Audio Engineer Seasonal) | Ione, WA | 06/25/2025 | $147,008 |
| Rhino Staging | South Florida-Audio Engineer (A1) Digico Quantum 225 | Orlando, FL | 06/23/2025 | $104,350 |
| Insight Global | Audio Engineer | Santa Clara, CA | 06/21/2025 | $83,480 |
| Hollywood Park Management Company | Audio Engineer, Youtube Theater | Inglewood, CA | 06/15/2025 | $100,000 |
| Sofar | Audio Engineer | LOS Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 06/09/2025 | $7,200 |
| Sofar Sounds | Audio Engineer | LOS Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 05/30/2025 | $7,200 |
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