Sound Engineering Technicians
SOC Code: 27-4014 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
Assemble and operate equipment to record, synchronize, mix, edit, or reproduce sound, including music, voices, or sound effects, for theater, video, film, television, podcasts, sporting events, and other productions.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Sound Engineering Technicians. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | $55,432 | $91,458 | $127,483 | $163,509 |
| Fresno, CA | $56,160 | $91,915 | $127,650 | $163,405 |
| Salinas, CA | $55,266 | $89,835 | $124,426 | $158,995 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $58,989 | $88,026 | $117,083 | $146,120 |
| Modesto, CA | $58,635 | $87,714 | $116,813 | $145,891 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $57,616 | $86,258 | $114,899 | $143,541 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $68,203 | $93,059 | $117,936 | $142,792 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $67,933 | $92,830 | $117,707 | $142,605 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $68,120 | $92,955 | $117,770 | $142,605 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $67,766 | $92,664 | $117,562 | $142,459 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.8 | |
| Speaking | 3.6 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.2 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.2 | |
| Operation and Control | 3.2 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.2 | |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Computers and Electronics | 4.6 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.9 |
| Fine Arts | 3.8 |
| English Language | 3.7 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.7 |
| Communications and Media | 3.5 |
| Production and Processing | 3.3 |
| Administration and Management | 2.8 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 32.0% |
| Some college | 20.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 20.0% |
| Associate's degree | 12.0% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 8.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.0% |
| First professional degree (MD, JD) | 4.0% |
Typical Tasks
- Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
- Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
- Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
- Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made.
- Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards.
- Synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles.
- Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
- Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Acrobat Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Apple macOS Autodesk AutoCAD Facebook Git Linux Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Visio Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word
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