Creative & Media

Audio Engineer

Capture, mix, and fix sound for concerts, broadcasts, podcasts, and films so it comes out clear and balanced

Open interactive guide

What does an Audio Engineer do?

Audio engineers work in recording studios, concert venues, TV and radio stations, and post-production rooms. They set up microphones, run the mixing board, and shape sound with software. It suits people with sharp ears who are patient, technical, and comfortable working odd hours.

A day in the life

10:00 AMSet up microphones and test each channel before the band arrives
12:00 PMBalance the drums and vocals during the sound check
2:00 PMTrack down a buzzing cable that shows up on one channel
5:00 PMReview the night's set list and mark cues on the mix board
8:00 PMMix the live show, moving faders as the crowd gets loud
11:30 PMPack the cables and mics and log any broken gear

What's great

  • You hear the results of your work right away
  • Work with musicians and film crews
  • Many settings, from studios to stadiums
  • Tech skills carry across many jobs

The hard parts

  • Evenings, weekends, and holidays are common
  • Loud sound can hurt your hearing
  • Hauling gear means heavy lifting
  • Freelance work can be uneven

What is an Audio Engineer's salary and outlook?

$33k – $83k
Salary Range
Bachelor's degree
Typical Education
Growing

Typical pay in this guide runs from about $33,000 to $82,500 a year, with a midpoint around $55,000. These are planning figures for students, not a job offer or an official wage.

CareerLens rates the outlook as Growing.

For the official national outlook, see BLS Occupational Data.

How do you become an Audio Engineer?

A common path is Bachelor's degree or certificate in audio engineering, plus hands-on gigs. The ladder often runs from Assistant Engineer (Studio or Live Crew) to Audio Engineer, then Senior Mix Engineer, and Chief Engineer or Studio Owner. Other routes: Two-year audio production program; Intern at a local studio or venue; Work as a live sound crew member; Learn from online tutorials and record local bands.

  • Two-year audio production program
  • Intern at a local studio or venue
  • Work as a live sound crew member
  • Learn from online tutorials and record local bands

Career path

Entry level
Assistant Engineer (Studio or Live Crew)
Mid career
Audio Engineer
Senior
Senior Mix Engineer
Executive
Chief Engineer or Studio Owner

Will AI replace an Audio Engineer?

How much will AI change this job?

Quite a bit

AI will help with some tasks in this job, while the most important parts stay human.

AI helps with sound editing, but your ears still lead.

AI tools can now clean up audio, remove background noise, and suggest mixing settings faster than before. But great sound still needs a human ear to know what feels right. Audio engineers will use AI to handle repetitive tasks while focusing more on creative choices and problem-solving.

AI can help with

  • Removing background noise from recordings
  • Suggesting starting points for mixing levels
  • Organizing and labeling large audio files

What stays human

  • Deciding what a song or scene should feel like
  • Solving tricky live-sound problems on the spot
  • Building trust with musicians, directors, and producers

Skills to build now

  • Learn a music or audio editing app
  • Practice careful listening to different sounds
  • Join band, choir, or a school AV club

Based on public research from Anthropic and OpenAI, drafted with AI, checked automatically, and read by a person. How we know

This describes how the work may change. It is not a prediction that the job will disappear.