Sound Recording Engineers

Median Salary: $46,400

Many sound recording engineers across the country share a number of important professional attributes. For example, stress tolerance, cooperation, and initiative can be crucial for success in the industry, especially when combined with career training. Around 15,560 individuals were working as sound recording engineers nationwide in 2009. With that much workplace competition, it's vital to build on these traits and receive excellent training, particularly if you're looking to advance in the field.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for sound recording engineers in the U.S. was $46,400 in 2009, which works out to a median hourly wage of $22.30. Of course, income can vary with training and by locale. Below, you'll find more data about sound recording engineers, including wages and job density for areas all over the country.

Sound recording engineers should be skilled in:

  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Fluency of Ideas
  • Depth Perception
  • Written Comprehension
  • Time Sharing

Different individuals go into different careers; sound recording engineers are typically:

  • Realistic
  • Artistic
  • Conventional

Working as a sound recording engineer requires knowledge in subjects like:

  • Computers and Electronics
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Communications and Media
  • Fine Arts
  • Production and Processing

Related Occupations

« Return to Career Information

Below, you'll see links to more information on the top cities for this occupation (based on the number of individuals working as sound recording engineers). Note: "Job density" refers to the proportion of sound recording engineers in each city as compared to the national average.

Arizona
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Tucson 70 $33,100 $15.90 $42,900 $20.60 69.7%
California
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Los Angeles (Area) 2,660 $56,100 $27.00 $77,600 $37.30 232.8%
Oakland NA $45,900 $22.10 $52,000 $25.00 NA
Sacramento 80 NA NA NA NA -17.6%
San Diego 130 $53,300 $25.60 $61,700 $29.70 -14.3%
San Francisco (Area) NA $48,500 $23.30 $65,900 $31.70 NA
San Francisco (City) 470 $51,200 $24.60 $79,900 $38.40 299.2%
San Jose 50 $54,900 $26.40 $68,500 $32.90 -49.6%
Colorado
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Denver 160 $26,600 $12.80 $34,400 $16.60 13.4%
Connecticut
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Bridgeport 50 $39,000 $18.80 $42,900 $20.60 0%
Hartford 180 $41,600 $20.00 $96,100 $46.20 163.9%
District of Columbia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Washington (Area) 360 $51,400 $24.70 $68,000 $32.70 48.7%
Florida
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Jacksonville 60 $32,300 $15.50 $41,100 $19.80 -18.5%
Miami (Area) 340 $39,900 $19.20 $52,800 $25.40 22.7%
Orlando 210 $30,900 $14.90 $45,600 $21.90 77.3%
Tampa 80 $37,400 $18.00 $59,800 $28.70 -37.8%
Georgia
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Atlanta 240 $74,000 $35.60 $95,200 $45.80 -11.8%
Illinois
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Chicago (Area) 590 $45,300 $21.80 $57,900 $27.80 35.3%
Indiana
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Indianapolis NA $45,700 $22.00 $67,100 $32.20 NA
Maryland
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Baltimore 150 $38,400 $18.50 $52,900 $25.50 0%
Massachusetts
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Boston (Area) 450 $48,500 $23.30 $61,600 $29.60 123.5%
Michigan
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Detroit (Area) 140 $58,700 $28.20 $78,100 $37.60 13.4%
Minnesota
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Minneapolis 110 $45,900 $22.10 $52,900 $25.40 -47.9%
Missouri
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Kansas City 50 $23,800 $11.50 $37,200 $17.90 -57.1%
St. Louis 80 $47,600 $22.90 $63,700 $30.60 -45.4%
Nebraska
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Omaha 30 $38,900 $18.70 $52,800 $25.40 -43.7%
Nevada
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Las Vegas 280 $59,700 $28.70 $65,500 $31.50 179%
New Mexico
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Albuquerque 30 NA NA NA NA -31.1%
New York
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Albany 30 $42,600 $20.50 $51,500 $24.70 -38.7%
Buffalo 100 $35,300 $17.00 $59,500 $28.60 50.4%
New York (Area) NA $54,700 $26.30 $79,300 $38.10 NA
Rochester 80 $49,600 $23.80 $56,900 $27.40 34.5%
North Carolina
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Charlotte 80 $42,800 $20.60 $57,300 $27.50 -17.6%
Raleigh NA $32,000 $15.40 $37,300 $17.90 NA
Ohio
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Cincinnati 40 $28,500 $13.70 $39,600 $19.00 -64.7%
Cleveland 60 $36,600 $17.60 $43,700 $21.00 -52.1%
Columbus 50 $41,300 $19.80 $52,400 $25.20 -54.6%
Oklahoma
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Oklahoma City 30 $28,200 $13.60 $32,800 $15.80 -52.9%
Oregon
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Portland 60 $41,700 $20.00 $51,300 $24.70 -49.6%
Pennsylvania
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Lancaster 70 $43,100 $20.70 $50,600 $24.40 173.1%
Philadelphia (Area) 200 $36,600 $17.60 $49,300 $23.70 -31.9%
Pittsburgh 90 $34,700 $16.70 $43,900 $21.10 -30.3%
Scranton 80 $33,300 $16.00 $36,700 $17.70 149.6%
Rhode Island
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Providence 40 $33,100 $15.90 $40,700 $19.60 -36.1%
South Carolina
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Greenville 30 $42,300 $20.30 $69,300 $33.30 -11.8%
Tennessee
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Knoxville 50 $32,300 $15.50 $38,400 $18.50 34.5%
Memphis 30 $34,900 $16.80 $58,900 $28.30 -55.5%
Nashville 310 $36,600 $17.60 $50,700 $24.40 264.7%
Texas
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Austin 70 $36,500 $17.50 $48,100 $23.10 -23.5%
Dallas (Area) 200 $36,700 $17.60 $58,100 $27.90 -42.9%
Houston 60 $28,100 $13.50 $57,400 $27.60 -80.7%
Utah
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Salt Lake City NA $48,700 $23.40 $55,500 $26.70 NA
Washington
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Seattle (Area) 260 $52,800 $25.40 $65,800 $31.60 55.5%
Wisconsin
City/Area Employees Median
Annual Salary
Median
Hourly Wage
Top 25%
Annual Salary
Top 25%
Hourly Wage
Job Density
Madison 80 $23,400 $11.30 $32,400 $15.60 105%
Milwaukee 70 $52,600 $25.30 $61,400 $29.50 -23.5%