What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Sound Engineering Technicians in the U.S. earn more than $73,130 a year — the middle 80% land between $37,570 and $137,370. About 13,080 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Sound Engineering Technicians”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$73,130typical pay / year
13,080people in this work
$137,370+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Keeping the record3
Record speech, music, and other sounds
+Record clean dialogue, room tone, Foley and backing music for the two scene pickups in Studio B today, using…
Record speech, music, and other sounds
+Record clean dialogue, room tone, Foley and backing music for the two scene pickups in Studio B today, using the scarlet shotgun for dialogue, lavs on the actor, and the field recorder on 48k; verify levels, safety of mic stands, and hand raw files to Maya by 6pm.
The tools that do the workApple macOSjob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Assemble and operate sound equipment
+Assemble and test the live rig for tonight’s band: snake on stage, three mic stands with boom arms, DI for…
Assemble and operate sound equipment
+Assemble and test the live rig for tonight’s band: snake on stage, three mic stands with boom arms, DI for bass, patch the mixer to the stage box, run a soundcheck and note monitor mixes before the 8pm doors.
The tools that do the workApple macOSESCOjob descriptions
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Keep logs of recordings.
+Log today’s three sessions in the studio book: session times, talent names, mic chains, takes recorded, notes…
Keep logs of recordings.
+Log today’s three sessions in the studio book: session times, talent names, mic chains, takes recorded, notes on retakes and file locations, then export the log and send it to Production and Finance by tomorrow 10am.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Fixing1
Make routine repairs on equipment
+Replace the blown capacitor in channel 4’s preamp, swap the worn XLR on the vocal mic, and bench-test the…
Make routine repairs on equipment
+Replace the blown capacitor in channel 4’s preamp, swap the worn XLR on the vocal mic, and bench-test the repaired channel to confirm gain staging and no hum before returning the unit to the rack.
The tools that do the workLinuxjob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
The daily work16
Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
+Keep the live levels and tonal balance steady during the recording session for the four-piece band tonight,…
Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
+Keep the live levels and tonal balance steady during the recording session for the four-piece band tonight, monitor input meters and headphone mixes, nip any feedback or clipping, and note any mic, gain or headphone issues for the engineer between songs.
The tools that do the workApple macOSO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Tear down equipment after event completion.
+Break down the stage and FOH rig after the 11pm set, log and pack each microphone, snake and amp to their…
Tear down equipment after event completion.
+Break down the stage and FOH rig after the 11pm set, log and pack each microphone, snake and amp to their labelled road cases, run a quick continuity check on cables, and leave the loadout list with the production manager before you lock the truck.
The tools that do the workApple macOSO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction.
+Program three new MIDI instrument patches for the commercial: a warm pad, a percussive pluck, and a sampled…
Create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction.
+Program three new MIDI instrument patches for the commercial: a warm pad, a percussive pluck, and a sampled upright bass with velocity layers, map CC1 and mod wheel to filter and dynamics, then export the patch bank and notes for the composer.
The tools that do the workApple macOSO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Convert video and audio records to digital formats
+Transfer tonight's handheld camera audio and the field recorder files to a consolidated session, clean hum…
Convert video and audio records to digital formats
+Transfer tonight's handheld camera audio and the field recorder files to a consolidated session, clean hum and clicks, align timecode, normalize levels without clipping, and create archival WAVs and a single reference mix for the editor.
The tools that do the workApple macOSjob descriptions
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Synchronize sounds and dialogue with action
+Match every line of ADR and location dialogue to picture for the scene reel, nudge breaths and room tone to…
Synchronize sounds and dialogue with action
+Match every line of ADR and location dialogue to picture for the scene reel, nudge breaths and room tone to sit under action, ride levels so speech reads clearly across cuts, and deliver a locked stems package for picture lock.
The tools that do the workApple macOSjob descriptions
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Musical instruments
+Bring in the vintage acoustic guitar and electric keyboard for the session, tune and mic each instrument to…
Musical instruments
+Bring in the vintage acoustic guitar and electric keyboard for the session, tune and mic each instrument to taste, confirm playing technique and dynamic ranges with the musician, and mark preferred amp and DI settings for recall.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Use personal protection equipment
+Put on my earmuffs, fitted respirator, gloves and steel-toe boots, inspect each item for damage, log serial…
Use personal protection equipment
+Put on my earmuffs, fitted respirator, gloves and steel-toe boots, inspect each item for damage, log serial numbers and condition in the kit, then photograph and store the PPE in the green locker before tonight’s rigging shift.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Follow safety procedures when working at heights
+Before climbing the lighting grid, double-check my harness and lanyard adjustments, run the buddy safety…
Follow safety procedures when working at heights
+Before climbing the lighting grid, double-check my harness and lanyard adjustments, run the buddy safety checklist with Jade the rigger, confirm anchor points and radio channel, then sign off the climb permit at 17:30.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Operate an audio mixing console
+Walk the console patch and channel list, power on the desk and stage racks, set gain structure with a pink…
Operate an audio mixing console
+Walk the console patch and channel list, power on the desk and stage racks, set gain structure with a pink noise sweep, save a scene named Preload_Session, then run a quick band check with drums, bass and vocals.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Keep up with trends
+Spend one hour scanning the latest venue rigs and plugin demos, subscribe to two manufacturer firmware notes,…
Keep up with trends
+Spend one hour scanning the latest venue rigs and plugin demos, subscribe to two manufacturer firmware notes, bookmark three useful walkthroughs, then summarise three ideas to test during tomorrow’s soundcheck.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Fit up sound on stage
+Arrive early to fit the stage snakes and wedges, label and secure every cable and mic stand, measure SPL…
Fit up sound on stage
+Arrive early to fit the stage snakes and wedges, label and secure every cable and mic stand, measure SPL across the stage, adjust monitor mixes for the lead and rhythm players, and hand a signed checklist to production before doors.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Work with respect for own safety
+If a task feels unsafe, stop and move out of harm’s way, notify the stage manager and log the hazard with…
Work with respect for own safety
+If a task feels unsafe, stop and move out of harm’s way, notify the stage manager and log the hazard with photos, refuse the task until controls are in place, and request a kit inspection before resuming work.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Maintain sound equipment
+Inspect the flight cases, cabling and microphones, log any worn XLRs or broken clips, replace two faulty mic…
Maintain sound equipment
+Inspect the flight cases, cabling and microphones, log any worn XLRs or broken clips, replace two faulty mic capsules, rewrap loose cable runs, lubricate stage snake connectors, and file a maintenance report by Friday so shows run without dropout.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Technically design a sound system
+Survey the venue measurement points, calculate speaker placements and delay times for the main and balcony…
Technically design a sound system
+Survey the venue measurement points, calculate speaker placements and delay times for the main and balcony zones, produce a rig plan with amplifier and processor channel allocations, and hand the plan to the production manager two days before load-in.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Manage personal professional development
+Book a three-hour skills session on immersive mixing, add two industry articles and one course completion…
Manage personal professional development
+Book a three-hour skills session on immersive mixing, add two industry articles and one course completion certificate to my CV, update my show reel with the latest festival mix, and schedule quarterly review time in the calendar for measurable goals.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Work ergonomically
+Arrange the console and monitor positions to keep elbows at 90 degrees, raise the chair to support lumbar,…
Work ergonomically
+Arrange the console and monitor positions to keep elbows at 90 degrees, raise the chair to support lumbar, move noisy gear to the rack at shoulder height, set a 10-minute hourly stretch alarm, and note changes in the tech log for shift handover.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Says who?
These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.
Activities this job lives in
The human activities behind the tasks — each with its honest AI ceiling.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
The rest of the map
Same library, five ways in.
Copyright © LLOS.ai · 2026 — original pedagogy, voice, and design — all rights reserved.
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses