What does an Audio Engineer do?
Audio Engineers – also known as Recording Engineers – are responsible for recording, mixing and sound designing. They work alongside producers to help record a studio session or a live performance. Engineers balance and manipulate sound sources using different techniques such as equalization, flanging, filtering, and compression. They also set up and monitor instruments and equipment used during recording. Ultimately, they are the bridge between the creative and technical sides of making music.
How much does an Audio Engineer make?
According to ZipRecruiter, Audio Engineers maintain a national hourly wage of $17-26 in 2021. This amounts to an average annual salary of $35,360 to $54,080. In general, the range in salary widely depends on factors including skill and seniority level. Entry-level audio engineers start around $21,000 annually. Senior-level audio engineers make an annual average of $136,500.
What impact does this career have towards the music industry?
Engineers play a key role in how listeners hear and interpret sound. They work to ensure that the final version of audio heard by listeners is the highest quality it can be. Engineers often have backgrounds as musicians. However, they have decided to apply their skills to help other artists through their creative process.
What is the job outlook for an Audio Engineer?
Music revenue is forecasted to more than double to about $131 billion by 2030. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities in the field (including Audio Engineer) are expected to grow at a rate of 9.0% during the 2019-2029 decade (www.bls.gov).
Learn from:
Pete Rock
Music Industry Essentials contributor, Producer
Production Credits: Busta Rhymes, Common, Ghostface Killa, Jim Jones, Method Man & Redman, Raekwon, and Talib Kweli
Related Careers:
Music Producer | Studio Engineer | Studio Maintenance Engineer | Mastering Engineer | Mixing Engineer | Assistant Recording Engineer
