Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between sound engineers and audio technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a sound engineer and an audio technician. Additionally, a sound engineer has an average salary of $52,197, which is higher than the $51,473 average annual salary of an audio technician.
The top three skills for a sound engineer include audio equipment, venues and A/V. The most important skills for an audio technician are wireless microphones, video equipment, and audio systems.
| Sound Engineer | Audio Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $52,197 | $51,473 |
| Hourly rate | $25.09 | $24.75 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 6,923 | 30,951 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Sound engineers are audio engineering professionals who are responsible for performing audio mixes and reproduction while manipulating the equalization and electronic effects of sound. These engineers must design and control the sound at different locations such as theaters, conferences, and any other venue that requires sound projection. By using their well-trained ears, sound engineers must control the combination of microphones, sound levels, and sound outputs. Sound engineers must also maintain and sound up sound equipment such as amplifiers, complex PA systems, and speakers for bands and other sound engineers.
An audio technician is a person who works in a variety of media fields and broadcasting and is responsible for capturing audio signals. They are involved in maintaining audio equipment, setup, speakers and sound mixer, and everything from the cables and microphones to the monitor. Also, audio technicians repair equipment that is faulty to continue recording with minimal disruption to the recording session. They are needed for live production venues, recording studios, television, radio broadcasts, and worship spaces. An audio technician works under a sound engineer who handles the creative process and final mixing involved with audio production.
Sound engineers and audio technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sound Engineer | Audio Technician | |
| Average salary | $52,197 | $51,473 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $95,000 | Between $30,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | - |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | - |
| Best paying company | Techtronic Industries TTI | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a sound engineer and an audio technician in terms of educational background:
| Sound Engineer | Audio Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Music | Music |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | Johns Hopkins University |
Here are the differences between sound engineers' and audio technicians' demographics:
| Sound Engineer | Audio Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7% | Male, 87.8% Female, 12.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |