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Studio engineer salary
Average studio engineer salary
$93,539
Understanding Studio Engineer Salaries
The average salary for a studio engineer in the United States is around $93,539 per year, or about $45 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which one works. For instance, studio engineers in high-demand areas or specialized sectors often command higher salaries.
State-by-State Salary Insights
Studying the average studio engineer salary by state reveals significant variations. States like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to their vibrant music and entertainment industries. In contrast, regions with fewer recording studios may present lower average salaries.
Career Growth and Opportunities
As a studio engineer, pursuing advanced certifications or specializing in niche areas can enhance your earning potential. Networking with industry professionals and staying updated with the latest sound engineering technologies can also open doors to higher-paying positions.
Overall Salary Trends
Monitoring salary trends over time helps aspiring studio engineers make informed career choices. By understanding market dynamics, you can better position yourself for success in this competitive field.
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Where can a Studio Engineer earn more?
Studio engineer salary estimates from across the web
Average studio engineer salary by state
The highest-paying states for studio engineers are Oregon, California, and Arizona. The lowest average studio engineer salary states are Maryland, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for studio engineers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $113,040 | $54.35 |
| 2 | Arizona | $108,688 | $52.25 |
| 3 | Virginia | $106,252 | $51.08 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $98,379 | $47.30 |
| 5 | California | $110,846 | $53.29 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $103,961 | $49.98 |
| 7 | Utah | $96,187 | $46.24 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $106,024 | $50.97 |
| 9 | Alabama | $94,759 | $45.56 |
| 10 | Washington | $97,942 | $47.09 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $98,972 | $47.58 |
| 12 | Ohio | $97,582 | $46.91 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $98,554 | $47.38 |
| 14 | Georgia | $94,002 | $45.19 |
| 15 | Montana | $97,356 | $46.81 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $95,750 | $46.03 |
| 17 | Michigan | $90,220 | $43.38 |
| 18 | Indiana | $90,331 | $43.43 |
| 19 | Idaho | $94,469 | $45.42 |
| 20 | Illinois | $90,702 | $43.61 |
| 21 | South Carolina | $92,905 | $44.67 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $93,345 | $44.88 |
| 23 | Colorado | $90,738 | $43.62 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $91,331 | $43.91 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $92,329 | $44.39 |
| 26 | Florida | $88,144 | $42.38 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $94,142 | $45.26 |
| 28 | Alaska | $89,449 | $43.00 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $85,460 | $41.09 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $88,499 | $42.55 |
| 31 | Iowa | $88,908 | $42.74 |
| 32 | Texas | $83,949 | $40.36 |
| 33 | New York | $81,659 | $39.26 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $85,969 | $41.33 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $85,085 | $40.91 |
| 36 | Delaware | $56,266 | $27.05 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $87,386 | $42.01 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $56,196 | $27.02 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $84,937 | $40.84 |
| 40 | Maryland | $56,196 | $27.02 |
| 41 | Missouri | $86,103 | $41.40 |
| 42 | Kansas | $83,481 | $40.14 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $74,582 | $35.86 |
| 44 | Nevada | $64,001 | $30.77 |
| 45 | Massachusetts | $53,116 | $25.54 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $61,555 | $29.59 |
| 47 | Maine | $81,143 | $39.01 |
| 48 | Connecticut | $55,198 | $26.54 |
| 49 | Vermont | $49,147 | $23.63 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $51,533 | $24.78 |
| 51 | Rhode Island | $54,246 | $26.08 |
Highest paying cities for studio engineers
The highest-paying cities for studio engineers are San Francisco, CA, Philadelphia, PA, and Eden Prairie, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $119,010 | $57.22 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $106,434 | $51.17 |
| 3 | Eden Prairie, MN | $99,274 | $47.73 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $94,499 | $45.43 |
| 5 | Dearborn, MI | $90,604 | $43.56 |
| 6 | Bedford, TX | $85,258 | $40.99 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $82,051 | $39.45 |
Studio engineer salary details
A studio engineer's salary ranges from $65,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $132,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a studio engineer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $132,000 | $11,000 | $63 |
| 75th Percentile | $112,000 | $9,333 | $54 |
| Average | $93,539 | $7,795 | $45 |
| 25th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 10th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
Highest paying studio engineer jobs
The highest paying types of studio engineers are engineer, mixing engineer, and music 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 |
| Sound Engineer | $52,197 | $4,350 | $25.09 | 6,923 |
| Audio Engineer | $55,853 | $4,654 | $26.85 | 1,750 |
Top companies hiring studio engineers now:
Which companies pay studio engineers the most?
Studio engineer salaries at Netflix and Amazon are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average studio engineer salary at companies like Algolia and Lucid Motors are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netflix | $138,945 | $66.80 |
| 2 | Amazon | $123,919 | $59.58 |
| 3 | Algolia | $123,265 | $59.26 |
| 4 | Lucid Motors | $115,202 | $55.39 |
| 5 | Faraday Technology | $113,837 | $54.73 |
| 6 | Tesla | $112,967 | $54.31 |
| 7 | Activision Blizzard | $100,940 | $48.53 |
| 8 | Mux | $93,248 | $44.83 |
| 9 | Target | $77,586 | $37.30 |
| 10 | UnitedHealth Group | $73,804 | $35.48 |
| 11 | The E.W. Scripps Company | $66,475 | $31.96 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Studio engineer salary trends
The average studio engineer salary has risen by $11,832 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average studio engineer earned $81,707 annually, but today, they earn $93,539 a year. That works out to a 0% change in pay for studio engineers over the last decade.
Compare studio engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average studio engineer salary over time
Compare studio engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Studio engineer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $93,500 | $44.97 | -2.3% |
| 2024 | $95,700 | $46.00 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $91,600 | $44.02 | -6.5% |
| 2022 | $97,500 | $46.89 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | $93,800 | $45.10 | +0.7% |
Recently added studio engineer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc. | Genesis Studio Engineer | El Segundo, CA | 06/26/2025 | $106,000 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | Studio Engineer-Mechanical | Mountain View, CA | 06/24/2025 | $95,000 |
| Apple | Fitness+ Studio Engineer | Santa Monica, CA | 06/17/2025 | $150,556 |
| Del Oro Consulting | Copilot Studio Engineer (PST) | San Francisco, CA | 06/05/2025 | $125,220 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | Studio Engineer-Mechanical | Mountain View, CA | 05/29/2025 | $95,000 |
| Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc. | Genesis Studio Engineer | Irvine, CA | 05/22/2025 | $106,000 |
| Rivian | Staff Studio Engineer | Irvine, CA | 05/21/2025 | $137,800 |
| American Express | Engineer-Java-ACE Studio Platform CV | Sunrise, FL | 05/18/2025 | $85,000 |
| Entisys Solutions/E360 | Microsoft Power Platform & Copilot Studio Engineer-‘Contract (1099)-Western State Resid | Ione, CA | 05/14/2025 | $146,090 |
| Democratic Party | Studio Engineer | Washington, DC | 04/28/2025 | $65,000 |
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