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Job outlook for sound technicians in the United States
Sound technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected sound technician job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 12,100 new jobs for sound technicians are projected over the next decade.
Sound technician salaries have increased 0% for sound technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 5,453 sound technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 6,621 active sound technician job openings in the US.
The average sound technician salary is $43,270.
Are sound technician jobs in demand?
Sound technician job and salary trends over time
Sound technician jobs over time
Sound technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,453 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 5,958 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 7,066 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 7,341 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 7,166 | 0.00% |
Average sound technician salary over time
Sound technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,270 | $20.80 | --2.2% |
| 2024 | $44,256 | $21.28 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $42,356 | $20.36 | --6.1% |
| 2022 | $45,121 | $21.69 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $43,399 | $20.87 | +0.7% |
Sound technician jobs by state
Most common states for sound technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 151 | 11% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 80 | 11% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 539 | 8% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 74 | 8% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 53 | 8% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 382 | 7% |
| 7 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 214 | 7% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 93 | 7% |
| 9 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 731 | 6% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 637 | 6% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 602 | 6% |
| 12 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 386 | 6% |
| 13 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 364 | 6% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 337 | 6% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 231 | 6% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 110 | 6% |
| 17 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 980 | 5% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 489 | 5% |
| 19 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 421 | 5% |
| 20 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 96 | 5% |
Most common cities for sound technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence | 1 | 1% | $32,769 |
| 2 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $39,967 |
| 3 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $44,535 |
| 4 | Dallas | 1 | 0% | $35,965 |
| 5 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $36,716 |
| 6 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $41,936 |
| 7 | Saint Louis | 1 | 0% | $36,627 |
| 8 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $53,422 |
Sound Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of sound technician experts
University of Minnesota - Duluth
Audio Engineering Society
Scott Boyle
Associate Professor/Technical DirectorUniversity of Minnesota - Duluth
Drama/Theatre Arts And Stagecraft
What general advice would you give to a Sound Technician?
Scott Boyle: Theater companies are still figuring things out post-pandemic. A lot of experienced workers moved on leaving some companies scrambling for people to fill the vacancies. There's also a lot of financial instability within the theater world. DO YOUR RESEARCH when searching for a job. Search for local articles written about the health of the Arts scene in that area. Look at the cost of housing, food and transportation. Be realistic about what it costs to live and how that stacks up against what the job pays.
What will help Sound Technicians increase their earning potential?
Scott Boyle: As Theatres work at finding ways to draw their audiences, some companies will be leaning more and more into spectacle - automated scenery, flashy video walls, performer flying, using intelligent lighting, etc. The technology is getting cheaper and more within the reach of smaller companies. Don't stop learning about the technology in your field. Try to either work with companies who are using the gear or join professional organizations which can expose you to what is being used.
Ian Corbett
Coordinator & Professor of Audio Engineering, Kansas City Kansas Community College Audio Engineering Society Vice-President, Central USA & CanadaAudio Engineering Society
What are the best companies to work for a Sound Technician?
Ian Corbett: Companies are not the only end goal - many audio professionals work for themselves. The current situation is accelerating already developing trends in some areas of the industry. TV, film, video games, and podcasting are showing significant growth, and pre-pandemic (and hopefully post-pandemic), there was a demand for technical positions in live sound and corporate production, such as system, communications, and RF techs. Coding, digital signal processing, and sound design are in-demand skills sought after by product developers, the gaming and online streaming parts of the industry, and especially companies who are having to adjust to developing paradigms.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Sound Technicians to find work opportunities?
Ian Corbett: This is an ever-developing situation. As some cities become expensive, some companies relocate to cities with cheaper costs of living. It is important for the job-seeker to balance how they want to live and what they want to do. Los Angeles and New York offer a lot of opportunity generally, but with increased competition and increased cost of living. For gaming, cities like Austin and Baltimore have growing creative communities, in addition to the coasts. Various geographic regions offer their own opportunities, just different ones - for example, most cities have regional arts and theater opportunities, and it's possible to make a great living in many larger cities doing audio-visual and corporate audio work.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Sound Technicians in the next 5 years?
Ian Corbett: Audio educators and Audio Engineering Society members who were asked felt overall demand will stay about the same; however, the areas of the industry grads will enter will change. Audio-for-video, podcasting, game audio, audio-books, DSP and coding opportunities, and equipment design and manufacture (for certain sectors) are growing. Working from home is increasing, so a well-designed home facility and reliable internet are essential. Post-pandemic, the live event industry is expected to recover but incorporate new hybrid delivery technologies and workflows. So maybe companies' roles within the industry will shift slightly, and required multi-tasking and cross-specialty skills will need to include these new technologies. Audio professionals have to remain students for life to stay abreast of technological change and adapt to market demand - membership in the Audio Engineering Society is a particularly good avenue for continuing education.