How much does an Audio Engineer make?

The average salary for an Audio Engineer is $70,257 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 1553 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by an Audio Engineer employees in United States.

The highest salary for an Audio Engineer in United States is $93,278 per year.

The lowest salary for an Audio Engineer in United States is $53,098 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming an Audio Engineer or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of an Audio Engineer.

Audio engineering salaries are high, reflecting the field’s significant barriers to entry. A bachelor’s in engineering degree is considered a minimum qualification, although many firms strongly prefer candidates with internship experience. Once hired, audio engineers typically work full time and are paid a salary with full benefits. Candidates with a Master of Engineering degree are typically paid higher salaries than candidates with only a bachelor’s degree. Successful engineers can earn a Professional Engineering (PE) license that indicates they are ready for more leadership responsibility, or they may choose to transition into a project manager role.

Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research

The average audio engineer makes $65,532.04 per year, with 76% of audio engineers reporting satisfaction with their pay according to anonymous Glassdoor ratings. Potential additional pay via bonuses, profit sharing, and commission may equal up to $4,725.21.

It's typical to earn between $41,282.13 and $120,071.11 over the course of your audio engineer career. Some audio engineers start their careers with a high school diploma or GED, but most have either an associate's or a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as sound production or audio engineering. With time, experience, and higher education, you may eventually become an audio engineering director.

When you're looking to move up in your audio engineering career and make more money, research in-demand skills first. Audio engineering is a technology-dependent field, so learning new programs and techniques as they develop can benefit you. Advancing your education can open doors for a higher salary as an audio engineer, especially if you go for a bachelor's degree. After five years in the audio engineering field, you can take an exam through the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) and earn the Certified Audio Engineer certification. Your education counts towards your years of experience for this certification, so candidates with a bachelor's degree would need one year of additional experience.

When you receive an audio engineering job offer with a lower salary than you were hoping for, have a justification ready for your counteroffer. List your qualifications, preferably things that make you stand out from other candidates like internships, education, or certifications, then follow those qualifications up with the salary range you think you deserve. Use phrasing that highlights your value, like "Given these qualifications, I think [desired salary] is fair compensation." If you're negotiating a salary at your current job, performance reviews and client feedback can help you demonstrate why you deserve a raise. 10 to 20% is a typical request for a raise in an audio engineer salary.