How many failed bands have you been in? If your answer is three or more, then it’s time for you to at least consider a career as a sound engineering technician. If you are looking for cash and are in the process of the job search or career planning, give this career some thought. These people, who mostly are former “par-tay” animals, are the backbone of the music industry. Oh yes, its true. 

 

They operate the machines responsible for recording and processing music. Gone are the days when most of the work of a sound engineering technician was to just press the record button. In fact, those days are long gone. Now, sound engineering technicians can be expected to press play and also help the talent procure recreational items and groupies. 

Digital recording has definitely made a major impact on the recording industry, and the sound engineering technician has played a major role in this regard. The sound engineering technician will synchronize music and audio tracks, mix records, add sound effects, clean up audio sources and on and on. For every movie, television show, live news broadcast or commercial produced; the odds are rather high that the sound engineering technician has a hand in the process at one or more stages.

 

You can also expect to see sound engineering technicians working for live productions such as sporting arenas and theater productions. After all, someone has to work the soundboard at the 150,000 production of Cats or My Big Fat Greek Wedding-the Musical.

 

Sound engineering technicians numbered at about 18,000 in 2006, but have been mysteriously disappearing worldwide for no real reason. No, not really. The rate of growth for the job is expected to be about nine percent by 2016.

Like most entertainment industry technicians, the sound engineering technician wakes up in a dazed and confused state, stumbles into work at least somewhat “medicated,” and proceeds to be the backbone of the industry. Depending upon where he or she works, the sound engineering technician’s day can range anywhere from helping to record a band, to recording a baby belching for inclusion into a commercial for apple sauce. Oh yes, it’s that insane! Mostly, they fade into the background and just make sure that A, B and C happen without any disasters.

The average salary for a sound engineering technician is rather high, considering that a college degree is not required for the job. At $43,000, a sound engineering technician is paid significantly more than many other engineering technicians in the entertainment industry. The top ten-percent of sound engineering technicians will earn about $65,000.

Many sound engineering technicians learn their skills on the job. A college degree is not required, but many do have associate’s degrees from community college.