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Sound Engineer
CreativeYou're the reason music, movies, and podcasts sound good instead of like someone recorded them in a bathroom. You'll mix, master, and manipulate audio using equipment that costs more than a car while artists tell you to 'make it sound warmer' — a direction that means nothing and everything simultaneously.
Salary Range
Low
$30k
Median
$52k
High
$90k
10-Year Growth
average
US Workers
74K
Education
Associate's or Bachelor's in Audio Engineering (or years of studio apprenticeship)
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Digital audio workstations (Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live)
- ▸Mixing console operation (Avid S6, SSL, Neve)
- ▸Microphone selection and placement techniques
- ▸Signal processing (EQ, compression, reverb, delay)
- ▸Live sound reinforcement systems
- ▸Acoustics and room treatment
- ▸Audio file formats and loudness standards (LUFS)
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Critical listening
- ▸Patience with revision cycles
- ▸Communication with artists
- ▸Attention to detail
- ▸Composure in live settings
What you'll actually do
- 01Mix audio tracks until 14 instruments and 4 vocals sound like they belong in the same room
- 02Adjust EQ, compression, and reverb while the artist says 'I don't know, it just doesn't feel right'
- 03Set up microphones for recording sessions with placement precision measured in inches
- 04Master final mixes so they sound good on everything from studio monitors to earbuds to car speakers
- 05Troubleshoot mysterious buzzing sounds that take 2 hours to trace to a bad cable
- 06Stay awake during late-night sessions because creative types apparently only feel inspired after midnight
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