Sound Engineering Technicians · California

Sound Engineering Technicians Salary in California

Sound Engineering Technicians in California earn a median annual wage of $78,150 —6.9% above the national median of $73,130. That ranks CA #6 of 35 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$78,150
Median hourly
$37.57
Entry level (P10)
$45,720
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$143,130
90th percentile
Employment
4,060
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+6.9%
U.S. $73,130

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$45,720
$53,150
$78,150
$100,910
$45,720$78,150$143,130
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $78,150.

Employment is 2.65× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for sound engineering technicians

All 35 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New Jersey$115,190$55.382900.80
2District of Columbia$106,630$51.26901.60
3New York$87,510$42.072,0502.52
4Nevada$84,570$40.661701.34
5Maryland$79,990$38.461600.71
6California$78,150$37.574,0602.65
7Georgia$77,010$37.022000.49
8Kentucky$74,100$35.62600.35
9Indiana$73,130$35.16500.20
10Illinois$73,130$35.165701.11

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$85,030$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$47,660$47,320
Graphic Designers$75,130$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$47,010$39,390
Producers and Directors$129,790$90,360
Editors$98,030$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do sound engineering technicians make in California?

The median annual wage for sound engineering technicians in California is $78,150, or $37.57 per hour. That is 6.9% above the national median of $73,130.

What is the entry-level sound engineering technicians salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $45,720 per year ($21.98/hour). The 25th percentile is $53,150.

How many people work as sound engineering technicians in California?

About 4,060 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for sound engineering technicians?

California ranks #6 of 35 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 2.65x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays sound engineering technicians the most?

New Jersey has the highest median wage at $115,190 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($106,630) and New York ($87,510).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes