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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
This is the salary picture most job boards don't show you. The national median salary for Sound Engineers in 2026 is $67,506, with entry-level positions averaging $48,604 and senior roles reaching $95,858. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $122,960, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Sound Engineer falls within the Creative & Media sector, specifically in Arts & Media. The typical education path involves Bachelor's or associate's. The career outlook? Steady. Work style is studio-based — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
$74,820 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Sound Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $122,960 — $74,820 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($48,140). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Sound Engineers average $48,604, the median sits at $67,506, and senior earners pull in $95,858. That $47,254 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $12,861 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
Compare this to adjacent occupations, and the value of this career becomes clearer. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $114,840 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $48,527. That $66,313 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
A Sound Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $122,960 — $74,820 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($48,140). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Sound Engineer is $48,604, while senior-level (P90) earners average $95,858. That $47,254 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $48,604 | $67,506 | $95,858 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £25,258 | £35,080 | £49,814 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$36,444 | CA$50,617 | CA$71,875 |
| Australia | 13 | A$40,456 | A$56,189 | A$79,789 |
| Sweden | 24 | 258,025 kr | 358,368 kr | 508,883 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $58,663 | $81,476 | $115,696 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $56,689 | $78,735 | $111,804 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $56,376 | $78,300 | $111,186 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $52,200 | $72,500 | $102,950 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $51,574 | $71,630 | $101,715 |
| Washington | 8 | $50,582 | $70,253 | $99,759 |
| New York | 5 | $47,607 | $66,120 | $93,891 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $47,606 | $66,120 | $93,890 |
| Florida | 22 | $47,246 | $65,619 | $93,179 |
| Colorado | 11 | $46,429 | $64,485 | $91,569 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $46,354 | $64,380 | $91,420 |
| Nevada | 5 | $46,270 | $64,264 | $91,255 |
| Arizona | 12 | $46,040 | $63,945 | $90,802 |
| Oregon | 5 | $45,936 | $63,800 | $90,596 |
| Idaho | 3 | $45,797 | $63,607 | $90,321 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $45,435 | $63,104 | $89,608 |
| Utah | 4 | $45,310 | $62,930 | $89,361 |
| Virginia | 7 | $44,564 | $61,894 | $87,890 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $43,987 | $61,093 | $86,753 |
| Alaska | 1 | $43,848 | $60,900 | $86,478 |
| Illinois | 5 | $43,347 | $60,204 | $85,490 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $42,270 | $58,709 | $83,367 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $41,760 | $58,000 | $82,360 |
| Montana | 1 | $41,760 | $58,000 | $82,360 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $41,621 | $57,807 | $82,086 |
| Texas | 40 | $41,415 | $57,522 | $81,681 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $41,343 | $57,420 | $81,537 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $41,134 | $57,130 | $81,125 |
| Georgia | 6 | $40,994 | $56,937 | $80,850 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $40,925 | $56,840 | $80,713 |
| Kansas | 4 | $40,716 | $56,550 | $80,301 |
| Michigan | 6 | $40,577 | $56,357 | $80,027 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $40,090 | $55,680 | $79,066 |
| Maryland | 1 | $40,090 | $55,680 | $79,066 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $39,672 | $55,100 | $78,242 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $39,672 | $55,100 | $78,242 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $38,628 | $53,650 | $76,183 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $38,419 | $53,360 | $75,771 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $37,897 | $52,635 | $74,742 |
| Missouri | 4 | $37,897 | $52,635 | $74,742 |
| Alabama | 5 | $37,751 | $52,432 | $74,453 |
| Indiana | 3 | $37,166 | $51,620 | $73,300 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $37,166 | $51,620 | $73,300 |
| Iowa | 2 | $36,749 | $51,040 | $72,477 |
| Ohio | 6 | $36,679 | $50,943 | $72,339 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $35,078 | $48,720 | $69,182 |
Geography shapes Sound Engineer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $81,476 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($122,960 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $58,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $122,960 | 212 | $58,000 | $74,647 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $114,840 | 198 | $58,000 | $70,177 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $106,720 | 184 | $58,000 | $65,707 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $104,980 | 181 | $58,000 | $64,749 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $103,240 | 178 | $58,000 | $63,791 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $102,660 | 177 | $58,000 | $63,472 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $102,660 | 177 | $58,000 | $63,472 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $100,340 | 173 | $58,000 | $62,191 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $100,340 | 173 | $58,000 | $62,191 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $98,020 | 169 | $58,000 | $60,867 |
From a career planning perspective, Sound Engineer offers a $47,254 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's or associate's. Day-to-day, expect studio-based work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Sound Engineers is $67,506 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $48,604, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $95,858.
The highest-paying city for Sound Engineers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $122,960. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($122,960), Santa Clara ($114,840), Irvine ($106,720). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Sound Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $48,140. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Sound Engineers (10th percentile) average $48,604 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $88,531. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Sound Engineers average $95,858 nationally — $47,254 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Sound Engineers can earn up to $174,603.
The top-paying states for Sound Engineers are California ($81,476 median), Massachusetts ($78,735 median), Hawaii ($78,300 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Sound Engineer involves Bachelor's or associate's. The field is in the Creative & Media sector (Arts & Media), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically studio-based.
With a national median of $67,506 and representation across 288 metro areas, Sound Engineer offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $47,254 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.