Salary of Sound Engineering Technician Overview

Russell Emery says he “never really set out to be an audio tech.” Sure, he worked for various plays and concerts in high school and college—where he majored in geography—but he always considered it extracurricular.

After graduation, however, he worked at a stage lighting company and later at a professional production company, where he learned how to make professional productions look and feel great. In 2016, Emery was hired to do the same at the presidential debates, working behind the scenes to make sure the American public heard the moderators’ questions and the candidates’ comments.

That’s one of the great things about a career in audio engineering. It can take you to a variety of places, from theater performances and sporting events to concerts and TV or movie series.

A DJ who plays music and moderates the sound at events and venues such as weddings, parties and nightclubs is another type of sound engineering technician. Michael Pacino, a DJ based in Baltimore, focuses on providing music and entertainment at weddings, bars and bat mitzvahs. And it’s not just about playing songs, says Pacino. It’s about playing the right songs for your crowd, mixing the music seamlessly and hosting the event to the people’s taste.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected employment growth of 17.4 percent for audio engineering technicians between 2020 and 2030. During that period, an estimated 2,300 jobs will be created.