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Sound designer salary
Average sound designer salary
$71,949
Average Sound Designer Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Sound Designer is around $71,949 annually. This figure varies based on factors such as geographic location, industry, and level of experience. In states like California and New York, salaries can be significantly higher, reflecting the demand for skilled professionals in major entertainment hubs.
How Much Does a Sound Designer Make?
Entry-level positions typically start at lower salary ranges, while experienced designers can earn upwards of $100,000 annually, particularly within high-budget projects. The industry also impacts earnings; those working in film generally earn more compared to those in smaller production companies.
Where Can a Sound Designer Earn More?
To maximize earning potential, consider focusing on industries such as film, video games, and advertising. These sectors often offer higher pay due to the complexity and quality of sound design required. Additionally, remote opportunities are on the rise, providing flexibility and access to diverse projects.
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Where can a Sound Designer earn more?
Sound designer salary estimates from across the web
Average sound designer salary by state
The highest-paying states for sound designers are Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Virginia. The lowest average sound designer salary states are Connecticut, Maryland, and Rhode Island.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for sound designers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $92,283 | $44.37 |
| 2 | Virginia | $92,073 | $44.27 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $94,656 | $45.51 |
| 4 | California | $90,134 | $43.33 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $84,416 | $40.58 |
| 6 | Arizona | $88,211 | $42.41 |
| 7 | Michigan | $78,123 | $37.56 |
| 8 | Ohio | $80,991 | $38.94 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $85,149 | $40.94 |
| 10 | Washington | $74,894 | $36.01 |
| 11 | Georgia | $72,628 | $34.92 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $82,751 | $39.78 |
| 13 | New York | $73,868 | $35.51 |
| 14 | Utah | $68,867 | $33.11 |
| 15 | Florida | $75,135 | $36.12 |
| 16 | Alabama | $74,452 | $35.79 |
| 17 | Indiana | $69,950 | $33.63 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $72,662 | $34.93 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $76,056 | $36.57 |
| 20 | Texas | $68,609 | $32.99 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $69,022 | $33.18 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $72,805 | $35.00 |
| 23 | Illinois | $68,597 | $32.98 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $66,809 | $32.12 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $69,459 | $33.39 |
| 26 | Maine | $65,705 | $31.59 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $68,346 | $32.86 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $65,442 | $31.46 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $63,196 | $30.38 |
| 30 | Iowa | $60,367 | $29.02 |
| 31 | Colorado | $58,141 | $27.95 |
| 32 | Idaho | $65,717 | $31.59 |
| 33 | Missouri | $58,794 | $28.27 |
| 34 | Alaska | $66,696 | $32.07 |
| 35 | Kansas | $56,235 | $27.04 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $49,780 | $23.93 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $49,658 | $23.87 |
| 38 | Massachusetts | $48,009 | $23.08 |
| 39 | Montana | $57,129 | $27.47 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $59,239 | $28.48 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $57,866 | $27.82 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $59,071 | $28.40 |
| 43 | Maryland | $49,983 | $24.03 |
| 44 | Connecticut | $50,213 | $24.14 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $54,576 | $26.24 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $55,381 | $26.63 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $54,849 | $26.37 |
| 48 | New Hampshire | $45,173 | $21.72 |
| 49 | Nevada | $51,388 | $24.71 |
| 50 | Delaware | $50,432 | $24.25 |
| 51 | Vermont | $39,101 | $18.80 |
Highest paying cities for sound designers
The highest-paying cities for sound designers are Novato, CA, Springfield, VA, and Gainesville, FL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novato, CA | $95,522 | $45.92 |
| 2 | Springfield, VA | $94,035 | $45.21 |
| 3 | Gainesville, FL | $77,739 | $37.37 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $76,604 | $36.83 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $74,424 | $35.78 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $71,993 | $34.61 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $69,629 | $33.48 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $65,892 | $31.68 |
| 9 | Bethesda, MD | $49,700 | $23.89 |
Sound designer salary details
A sound designer's salary ranges from $42,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $120,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a sound designer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $120,000 | $10,000 | $58 |
| 75th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| Average | $71,949 | $5,996 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
Highest paying sound designer jobs
The highest paying types of sound designers are studio engineer, mixing engineer, and music engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Engineer | $55,853 | $4,654 | $26.85 | 1,750 |
| Sound Engineer | $52,197 | $4,350 | $25.09 | 6,923 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
Top companies hiring sound designers now:
Which companies pay sound designers the most?
Sound designer salaries at Meta and Microsoft are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average sound designer salary at companies like Sony Interactive Entertainment America and SANS Institute are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta | $149,966 | $72.10 |
| 2 | Microsoft | $134,785 | $64.80 |
| 3 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America | $94,882 | $45.62 |
| 4 | SANS Institute | $92,371 | $44.41 |
| 5 | Accenture | $89,068 | $42.82 |
| 6 | 2k | $87,675 | $42.15 |
| 7 | Naughty Dog | $84,220 | $40.49 |
| 8 | ZeniMax Media | $83,819 | $40.30 |
| 9 | Riot Games | $83,673 | $40.23 |
| 10 | Activision Blizzard | $81,586 | $39.22 |
| 11 | Tencent | $79,507 | $38.22 |
| 12 | Valve | $79,376 | $38.16 |
| 13 | Zoox | $74,502 | $35.82 |
| 14 | Within | $74,237 | $35.69 |
| 15 | Crystal Equation | $63,027 | $30.30 |
| 16 | Sdsu Foundation | $60,969 | $29.31 |
| 17 | Rooster Teeth | $59,553 | $28.63 |
| 18 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $47,014 | $22.60 |
| 19 | Middle East Broadcasting Network | $35,168 | $16.91 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Sound Designer salary by industry
The average sound designer salary varies across industries:
- The average sound designer salary in the technology industry is $87,849, the highest of any industry.
- The average sound designer salary in the finance industry is $81,597.
- Sound designers in the media industry earn an average salary of $50,103, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for sound designers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $87,849 | $42.24 |
| 2 | Telecommunication | $81,597 | $39.23 |
| 3 | Finance | $79,510 | $38.23 |
| 4 | Start-up | $75,207 | $36.16 |
| 5 | Retail | $74,241 | $35.69 |
| 6 | Media | $50,103 | $24.09 |
High paying sound designer jobs
Sound designer salary trends
The average sound designer salary has risen by $9,101 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average sound designer earned $62,848 annually, but today, they earn $71,949 a year. That works out to a 0% change in pay for sound designers over the last decade.
Compare sound designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average sound designer salary over time
Compare sound designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Sound designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $71,900 | $34.59 | -2.3% |
| 2024 | $73,600 | $35.38 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $70,400 | $33.86 | -6.5% |
| 2022 | $75,000 | $36.07 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | $72,200 | $34.69 | +0.7% |
Recently added sound designer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meta | Sound Designer-FOA (Family of Apps) | Los Angeles, CA | 05/22/2025 | $113,000 |
| Meta | Sound Designer | New York, NY | 05/22/2025 | $113,000 |
| Hasbro, Inc. | Lead Sound Designer | Durham, NC | 05/17/2025 | $148,400 |
| Tencent | Senior Sound Designer III | Irvine, CA | 05/08/2025 | $89,640 |
| Meta | Sound Designer | Bellevue, WA | 04/24/2025 | $137,000 |
| Meta | Interactive Sound Designer-Creative Audio-Wearables | Menlo Park, CA | 03/28/2025 | $113,000 |
| 2K | Senior Sound Designer | Novato, CA | 03/28/2025 | $90,000 |
| Sleeper | Technical Sound Designer (Senior/Principal) | Ione, CA | 03/28/2025 | $153,100 |
| Intrepid Studios | Sound Designer | San Diego, CA | 03/15/2025 | $66,000 |
| Tencent America | Senior Sound Designer | Irvine, CA | 03/13/2025 | $89,640 |
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