Post job

Sound engineer vs sound technician

The differences between sound engineers and sound 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 a sound technician. Additionally, a sound engineer has an average salary of $52,197, which is higher than the $43,270 average annual salary of a sound technician.

The top three skills for a sound engineer include audio equipment, venues and A/V. The most important skills for a sound technician are sound equipment, wireless microphones, and audio equipment.

Sound engineer vs sound technician overview

Sound EngineerSound Technician
Yearly salary$52,197$43,270
Hourly rate$25.09$20.80
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs6,9236,621
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4242
Years of experience22

Sound engineer vs sound technician salary

Sound engineers and sound technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sound EngineerSound Technician
Average salary$52,197$43,270
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $95,000Between $25,000 And $73,000
Highest paying CityPhiladelphia, PA-
Highest paying stateOregon-
Best paying companyTechtronic Industries TTI-
Best paying industry--

Differences between sound engineer and sound technician education

There are a few differences between a sound engineer and a sound technician in terms of educational background:

Sound EngineerSound Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorMusicMusic
Most common collegeJohns Hopkins UniversityNew York University

Sound engineer vs sound technician demographics

Here are the differences between sound engineers' and sound technicians' demographics:

Sound EngineerSound Technician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 90.3% Female, 9.7%Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.3% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 5.0% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between sound engineer and sound technician duties and responsibilities

Sound engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage PowerPoint and mixing music at the same time.
  • Work for local contractor designing spreader bars for crane rigging using AutoCAD.
  • Provide equipment and engineering services for performers, musicians, bands, and DJ's.
  • Mix all live services FOH and maintain all audio, broadcasting and media system as well.
  • Experience tuning, calculating EQ settings, as well as appropriate delay times within an automobile.
  • Master multiple projects albums by working on song levels plus EQ and correct minor mix deficiencies with equalization.
  • Show more

Sound technician example responsibilities.

  • Create new costumes, props and scenery.
  • Coordinate costumes for various roles and scenes.
  • Set up all audio and dj equipment for schedule events.
  • Create weekly PowerPoint presentations for Sunday services as well as other events as they occur.
  • Operate FOH for various live events including music concerts, comedians, presentations, and speeches.
  • Work as the projectionist in several shows and run computer programs for show monitors on stage.
  • Show more

Sound engineer vs sound technician skills

Common sound engineer skills
  • Audio Equipment, 15%
  • Venues, 11%
  • A/V, 10%
  • Technical Aspects, 8%
  • Live Sound, 5%
  • Stage Equipment, 4%
Common sound technician skills
  • Sound Equipment, 16%
  • Wireless Microphones, 13%
  • Audio Equipment, 13%
  • Technical Equipment, 5%
  • Live Sound, 5%
  • Live Productions, 4%

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs