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Recording engineer salary
Average recording engineer salary
$78,099
Average Recording Engineer Salary
As of October 2025, recording engineers earn an average salary of $78,099 per year in the United States. This figure can fluctuate significantly based on various factors such as geographic location and years of experience. For instance, states like California and New York often provide higher compensation due to their thriving music industries.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level positions typically command lower wages, while seasoned professionals can earn significantly more. Additionally, specialized roles within recording studios, such as sound design or mixing, may offer higher pay.
Salary Trends Over Time
Analyzing historical salary data indicates a steady increase in earnings for recording engineers, reflecting the growing demand for quality audio professionals in various sectors, including film, gaming, and live events. Keeping up with industry trends and continuously enhancing skills can lead to better job prospects and salary growth.
Job Opportunities
To explore high-paying opportunities, consider positions with major recording labels or studios that invest in top talent. Networking and gaining experience through internships or freelance projects can also pave the way for lucrative roles in this competitive field.
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Where can a Recording Engineer earn more?
Recording engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average recording engineer salary by state
The highest-paying states for recording engineers are Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The lowest average recording engineer salary states are Rhode Island, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for recording engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $104,717 | $50.34 |
| 2 | Virginia | $93,933 | $45.16 |
| 3 | Washington | $91,310 | $43.90 |
| 4 | Arizona | $89,076 | $42.83 |
| 5 | New York | $92,305 | $44.38 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $99,418 | $47.80 |
| 7 | Michigan | $86,887 | $41.77 |
| 8 | California | $87,755 | $42.19 |
| 9 | Ohio | $85,847 | $41.27 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $84,185 | $40.47 |
| 11 | Utah | $79,154 | $38.05 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $85,787 | $41.24 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $89,987 | $43.26 |
| 14 | Idaho | $83,146 | $39.97 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $85,441 | $41.08 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $75,785 | $36.44 |
| 17 | Alaska | $80,784 | $38.84 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $78,335 | $37.66 |
| 19 | Illinois | $76,930 | $36.99 |
| 20 | Indiana | $74,604 | $35.87 |
| 21 | Montana | $80,017 | $38.47 |
| 22 | Alabama | $69,390 | $33.36 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $74,617 | $35.87 |
| 24 | Colorado | $68,045 | $32.71 |
| 25 | Maine | $76,279 | $36.67 |
| 26 | Iowa | $70,680 | $33.98 |
| 27 | Florida | $66,985 | $32.20 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $73,114 | $35.15 |
| 29 | Georgia | $68,206 | $32.79 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $69,833 | $33.57 |
| 31 | Texas | $65,201 | $31.35 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $73,009 | $35.10 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $70,468 | $33.88 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $70,209 | $33.75 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $64,229 | $30.88 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $66,854 | $32.14 |
| 37 | Delaware | $52,431 | $25.21 |
| 38 | Maryland | $51,604 | $24.81 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $51,315 | $24.67 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $62,885 | $30.23 |
| 41 | Massachusetts | $51,279 | $24.65 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $64,210 | $30.87 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $48,687 | $23.41 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $55,120 | $26.50 |
| 45 | Connecticut | $53,298 | $25.62 |
| 46 | Nevada | $53,535 | $25.74 |
| 47 | Missouri | $63,144 | $30.36 |
| 48 | New Hampshire | $49,906 | $23.99 |
| 49 | Vermont | $46,075 | $22.15 |
| 50 | Kansas | $61,818 | $29.72 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | $52,427 | $25.21 |
Highest paying cities for recording engineers
The highest-paying cities for recording engineers are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $97,020 | $46.64 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $92,748 | $44.59 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $77,680 | $37.35 |
| 4 | Alpharetta, GA | $68,970 | $33.16 |
| 5 | Altamonte Springs, FL | $68,758 | $33.06 |
| 6 | Plano, TX | $65,096 | $31.30 |
Recording engineer salary details
A recording engineer's salary ranges from $44,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $135,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a recording engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $135,000 | $11,250 | $65 |
| 75th Percentile | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50 |
| Average | $78,099 | $6,508 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
Highest paying recording engineer jobs
The highest paying types of recording engineers are studio engineer, engineer, and mixing engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound Designer | $71,949 | $5,996 | $34.59 | 50,235 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Audio Engineer | $55,853 | $4,654 | $26.85 | 1,750 |
| Sound Engineer | $52,197 | $4,350 | $25.09 | 6,923 |
Top companies hiring recording engineers now:
Which companies pay recording engineers the most?
Recording engineer salaries at Western Digital and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average recording engineer salary at companies like Verint and Amazon are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Flatiron Health | $87,326 | $41.98 |
| 6 | PSEA | $74,451 | $35.79 |
| 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 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Recording engineer salary trends
The average recording engineer salary has risen by $9,879 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average recording engineer earned $68,220 annually, but today, they earn $78,099 a year. That works out to a 0% change in pay for recording engineers over the last decade.
Compare recording engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average recording engineer salary over time
Compare recording engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Recording engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $78,100 | $37.55 | -2.3% |
| 2025 | $79,900 | $38.40 | +4.3% |
| 2024 | $76,400 | $36.75 | -6.5% |
| 2023 | $81,400 | $39.15 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | $78,300 | $37.66 | +0.7% |
Recently added recording engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado | Assistant Recording Engineer | Boulder, CO | 06/24/2025 | $25,000 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Assistant Recording Engineer | Boulder, CO | 06/23/2025 | $25,000 |
| Corporation for Public Broadcasting | Recording Engineer | Cincinnati, OH | 05/22/2025 | $59,000 |
| Super Micro Computer, Inc. | Record Contractor | San Jose, CA | 04/16/2025 | $50,088 |
| Corporation for Public Broadcasting | Recording Engineer | Cincinnati, OH | 03/12/2025 | $59,000 |
| Pair Networks, Inc. | Assistant Recording Engineer | Boulder, CO | 02/19/2025 | $25,000 |
| Cha | EMR Engineer III | Lansdale, PA | 02/15/2025 | $86,000 |
| Clough, Harbour & Associates, LLP | EMR Engineer III | Lansdale, PA | 02/14/2025 | $86,000 |
| Recording Connection | Recording Engineer | Los Angeles, CA | 09/11/2024 | $50,000 |
| Interlochen Center for The Arts | Recording Engineer (Summer) | Interlochen, MI | 04/27/2024 | $28,116 |
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