# Sound Engineering Technicians

> 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.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 27-4014.00
- **Summary:** 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.

## Aliases

- Audio Engineer
- Mixing Engineer
- Recording Engineer
- Sound Engineer
- Audio Operator
- Mastering Engineer
- Mixing Technician (Mixing Tech)
- Music Producer
- Sound Editor
- Sound Technician (Sound Tech)
- Acoustical Consultant
- Acoustical Engineer

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.h |
| Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.e |
| Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.e |
| Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage. | Core | 4.A.2.b.1.k |
| Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.e |
| Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones. | Core | 4.A.2.b.1.j |
| Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards. | Core | 4.A.2.b.1.k |
| Keep logs of recordings. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Tear down equipment after event completion. | Core | 4.A.3.a.2.s |
| Synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles. | Core | 4.A.3.a.3.e |
| Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment. | Core | 4.A.2.b.1.k |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Dismantle equipment or temporary structures. | 4.A.3.a.2.s |
| Convert data among multiple digital or analog formats. | 4.A.3.b.1.f |
| Operate audio recording equipment. | 4.A.3.a.3.e |
| Collaborate with others to determine technical details of productions. | 4.A.4.a.2.h |
| Operate control consoles for sound, lighting or video. | 4.A.3.a.3.e |
| Select materials or props. | 4.A.2.b.1.j |
| Notify others of equipment problems. | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Mix sound inputs. | 4.A.2.b.1.k |
| Maintain logs of production activities. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 4.6 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | ability | 4.12 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 4 |
| Near Vision | ability | 4 |
| Auditory Attention | ability | 4 |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 3.88 |
| Fine Arts | knowledge | 3.76 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.68 |
| Engineering and Technology | knowledge | 3.67 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3.62 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.5 |
| Communications and Media | knowledge | 3.5 |
| Fluency of Ideas | ability | 3.5 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.5 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3.38 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.38 |
| Originality | ability | 3.38 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.38 |
| Production and Processing | knowledge | 3.28 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Written Expression | ability | 3.25 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3.25 |
| Speed of Closure | ability | 3.25 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 3.25 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.25 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.12 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Service Orientation | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Systems Analysis | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.12 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3.12 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.12 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Unix | Specialized Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Windows | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Visio | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Linux | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Facebook | Specialized Skill |
| Adobe Photoshop | Specialized Skill |
| Adobe InDesign | Specialized Skill |
| Adobe Acrobat | Specialized Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Cisco IOS | Specialized Skill |
| Audio Editing Software | Specialized Skill |
| Adobe Premiere Pro | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Adobe Acrobat | Document management software | yes | no |
| Adobe Creative Cloud software | Graphics or photo imaging software | yes | no |
| Adobe InDesign | Desktop publishing software | yes | no |
| Adobe Photoshop | Graphics or photo imaging software | yes | no |
| Apple macOS | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | Computer aided design CAD software | yes | no |
| Facebook | Web page creation and editing software | yes | no |
| Git | File versioning software | yes | no |
| Linux | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Visio | Process mapping and design software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Windows | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Oracle Java | Object or component oriented development software | yes | no |
| UNIX | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Adobe Audition | Music or sound editing software | no | no |
| Adobe Premiere Pro | Video creation and editing software | no | no |
| Apple Final Cut Pro | Video creation and editing software | no | no |
| Audio editing software | Music or sound editing software | no | no |
| Avid Pro Tools | Music or sound editing software | no | no |
| Avid Technology audio visual editing software | Video creation and editing software | no | no |
| Avid Technology Pro Tools | Music or sound editing software | no | no |
| Cisco IOS | Operating system software | no | no |
| IBM Middleware | Transaction server software | no | no |
| Musical instrument digital interface MIDI software | Music or sound editing software | no | no |
| Perforce software | Metadata management software | no | no |
| Real time operating system RTOS software | Operating system software | no | no |
| Unity Technologies Unity | Development environment software | no | no |
| VMware | Clustering software | no | no |
| Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software | Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| E-Mail | 4.88 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.74 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.6 |
| Level of Competition | 4.48 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.43 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.4 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 4.28 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.24 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 4.24 |
| Time Pressure | 4.2 |
| Contact With Others | 4.08 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.72 |
| Physical Proximity | 3.62 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.56 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 3.56 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.52 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 3.44 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.41 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 3.29 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.25 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.83 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 2.74 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 2.67 |
| Consequence of Error | 2.62 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 2.48 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 2.4 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 2.32 |
| Spend Time Standing | 2.21 |
| Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled | 2.08 |
| Outdoors, Under Cover | 2.08 |
| Degree of Automation | 2 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 1.96 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 1.92 |
| Public Speaking | 1.88 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 1.76 |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment | 1.71 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 1.67 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 1.64 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 1.62 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 3
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- **Experience:** Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- **Svp Range:** (6.0 to < 7.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| High School Diploma | 32 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 20 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 20 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 12 |
| Some College Courses | 8 |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 4 |
| First Professional Degree | 4 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Media | specific_interest_area | 6.12 |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 5.14 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 4.61 |
| Artistic | career_interest_type | 4.45 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.22 |
| Performing Arts | specific_interest_area | 3.86 |
| Applied Arts and Design | specific_interest_area | 3.83 |
| Music | specific_interest_area | 3.69 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 3.53 |
| Information Technology | specific_interest_area | 2.73 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 2.68 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 2.57 |
| Dependability | work_style | 2.41 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 2.16 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 2.05 |
| Visual Arts | specific_interest_area | 1.97 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 27-4011.00 | role-27-4011-00 | Audio and Video Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 27-4012.00 | role-27-4012-00 | Broadcast Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 27-4015.00 | role-27-4015-00 | Lighting Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 17-3023.00 | role-17-3023-00 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 49-2097.00 | role-49-2097-00 | Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers | Primary-Short |
| 17-3028.00 | role-17-3028-00 | Calibration Technologists and Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 27-2012.05 | role-27-2012-05 | Media Technical Directors/Managers | Primary-Long |
| 27-4031.00 | role-27-4031-00 | Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | Primary-Long |
| 27-4032.00 | role-27-4032-00 | Film and Video Editors | Primary-Long |
| 49-2094.00 | role-49-2094-00 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | Primary-Long |
| 17-3024.01 | role-17-3024-01 | Robotics Technicians | Supplemental |
| 49-9063.00 | role-49-9063-00 | Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Arts, Entertainment, & Design | arts-entertainment-design |

## Education Level

- **Category:** Postsecondary nondegree award

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services | communications-technologies-technicians-and-support-services |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians | engineering-engineering-related-technologies-technicians |
| Visual and Performing Arts | visual-and-performing-arts |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 66430
- **Mean Wage:** 79280
- **Pct10Wage:** 36600
- **Pct25Wage:** 47680
- **Pct75Wage:** 99950
- **Pct90Wage:** 134980
- **Employment:** 13050
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 51 | 51 | Information | Sector | 6750 | 77590 | 27.43 |
| 71 | 71 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | Sector | 2200 | 58380 | 9.84 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 680 | 91170 | 0.75 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 650 | 46770 | 0.56 |
| 711110 | 711110 | Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | National industry | 580 | 65410 | 94.66 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 540 | 97450 | 0.71 |
| 516110 | 516110 | Radio Broadcasting Stations | National industry | 410 | 61450 | 93.55 |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector | 370 | 34320 | 0.99 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 220 | 123850 | 0.98 |
| 516120 | 516120 | Television Broadcasting Stations | National industry | 180 | 77580 | 32.76 |
| 53 | 53 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | Sector | 180 | 56340 | 0.9 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 130 | 86880 | 0.12 |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 711110 | 711110 | Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | National industry | 580 | 94.66 |
| 516110 | 516110 | Radio Broadcasting Stations | National industry | 410 | 93.55 |
| 516120 | 516120 | Television Broadcasting Stations | National industry | 180 | 32.76 |
| 51 | 51 | Information | Sector | 6750 | 27.43 |
| 71 | 71 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | Sector | 2200 | 9.84 |
| 81 | 81 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | Sector | 370 | 0.99 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 220 | 0.98 |
| 53 | 53 | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | Sector | 180 | 0.9 |
- **Count:** 18

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.13 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | 0.4715462 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | 0.4526318 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | 0.3384944 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 47
- **Percentile:** 46
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 59 | felten_aioe |
| 62 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 19 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | 0.4715462 | 59 | Moderate | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.7777777777777777 | 62 | Moderate | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.07238097288181083 | 19 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.13
- **Percentile:** 30
- **Band:** Low
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** yes

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.07407407407407407
- **Beta:** 0.42592592592592593
- **Gamma:** 0.7777777777777777

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction. | 0.0033893570081632153 | 3.07 |
| Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film. | 0.002464986915027793 | 4.83 |
| Convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving. | 0.0016433246100185286 | 3.62 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** -1.7
- **Growth Percentile:** 20
- **Direction:** Declining
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 1.2
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 18
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 16.9
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 16.6

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Ai Playbook

- **Trusted Task Count:** 3
- **Task Count:** 4
- **Total Sample:** 189
- **Autonomy Median:** 4
- **Dominant Collaboration:** learning
- **Automation Share:** 12.88
- **Augmentation Share:** 37.42
- **Work Use Percent:** 9.2

### Collaboration

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| learning | 19.63 |
| task iteration | 17.79 |
| directive | 12.88 |

### Use Case

| Label | Percent |
| --- | --- |
| personal | 83.44 |
| work | 9.2 |

### Delegated Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Collaboration | Autonomy Median | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film. | 0.009501187648456056 | learning | 4 | 95 |
| Create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction. | 0.003600450056257032 |  | 4 | 36 |
| Convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving. | 0.003200400050006251 | directive | 3 | 32 |

### Boundary Tasks

| Task | Human Needed Percent | Sample Count |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film. | 97.89473684210527 | 95 |
| Convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving. | 93.75 | 32 |
| Create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction. | 83.33333333333334 | 36 |

### Seed Prompts

| Prompt | Collaboration |
| --- | --- |
| Teach me how to confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film, then check my work as I try it myself. | learning |
| Help me with this part of my job: create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction |  |
| Do this for me: convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving. Give me a finished draft I can review and adjust. | directive |
- **Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 14
- **Skills:** 47
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 32
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 7ac8a0df04b0ec2c