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:
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Different individuals go into different careers; sound recording engineers are typically:
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Working as a sound recording engineer requires knowledge in subjects like:
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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.
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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 |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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 |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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% |
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 |
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% |
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% |