On average, the core salary for a sound engineer in the USA ranges from $22,510 to $118,530 while in Canada, they earn approximately C$21,895 up to C$82,062. On the other hand, sound engineers in Australia make AU$40,976 up to AU$94,228 which is comparatively higher than their counterparts in USA and Canada. In Switzerland, the annual salary scale amounts to between $76,929 and $90,505 depending on the number of years on the job. The pay scale of a Sound engineer is dependent on the type of employer, the salary structure, position in the company, the level of education, location and previous experiences.
An engineer aiming at getting the above salary scales must work hard on their skills, experience, select the appropriate employer and country to work in.
Sound Engineer Salary Influencers
The factors which determine the remuneration level of a sound engineer will be discussed below. In the following sections, we shall discuss some of the salary determinants individually.
1. Industry
The audio industry contains various companies each with different specialty fields, financial capabilities and differing employment procedures and policies. Every business, therefore, comes up with different policy models of remuneration depending on their considerations.
Essentially, most companies recruit engineers on a contractual basis or permanent positions. When the contract cost-profit analysis is completed, compensation recommendations are made to the human resource personnel who determine what each employee makes at the end of the contract.
A worker working on permanent terms gains a higher salary compared to their counterparts on a contractual basis. They also earn extra benefits. Additionally, other employer companies hire workers on freelance models who work on hourly basis. The sound engineer determines the amount of remuneration they require for the particular job, a wage which is exclusive of benefits such as insurance and allowances.
2. Geographical Area
A sound engineer working in a big city earns a better salary compared to counterparts in remote or suburban regions. The salary scales discussed above are well represented in the table below:
| Sound Engineer Salary | Hourly Wage | Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| US | $31.16 | $118,530 |
| Canada | $40 | $82,062 |
| UK | $39 | $104,000 |
| Australia | $29.48 | $80,856 |
| Switzerland | $21 | $86,897 |
| Norway | $41 | $65,000 |
Sound Engineer Salary in the US
On average, a Sound engineer in the US makes $$118,530 a year which is greater than the country’s median wage. At the entry level, an engineer can earn $21,895 and $118,530 after acquiring experience. On average, the total compensation may start from $54,000 after bonuses gain with that of the experienced individual increasing proportionally.
Sound Engineer Salary in the UK
Estimates from job application adverts ascertain that an average sound engineer in the United Kingdom’s racks about $104k. The remuneration figure is inclusive of bonuses, night outs, overtime pay and other allowances applicable in the country. In the UK, profit sharing is a common practice and may result in additional compensation where it is applicable.
Sound Engineer Salary in the Canada
A Sound engineer in Canada makes approximately $82,062a year. The amount is bound to rise if the engineer has more experience than other his counterparts making the basic salary. Bonuses range from C$998-C$10,326 including profit sharing options.
Sound Engineer Salary in Australia
Working in Australia guarantees you a salary of $80,856 a year. This figure changes proportionately due to profit sharing benefits which amount to approximately AU$1,000. Other bonuses range from AU$49.66-AU$9,060. Like Switzerland, the experience plays a negligible role in the salary determination with most engineers taking on other roles after they have over 20 years of experience.
Sound Engineer Salary in Switzerland
In Switzerland, the annual salary is approximately CHF 86,897 or $21 per hour. The bonuses are an average $4,630 yearly. In this case, the experience has minimal effect on the income of Sound engineers.
Sound Engineer Salary in Norway
The estimated $65,000 salary is 31.1 percent lower than the Norwegian median wage. Major firms such as Huawei operating in the country set the bar high for remuneration with tips and bonuses. Be that as it may, the experience is a major determinant here with senior engineers making the highest salaries in the industry.
3. Experience
At the entry level, a Sound engineer makes $118,530, $82,062, $104,000, CHF 86,897, $80,856, $65000annually in US, Canada, UK, Australia, and Norway respectively. Experienced personnel make $88,645, $54000, $104,000, CHF 86,897, $80,856, and $65,000 in the same countries. Most states reward the more experienced engineers more than the starters.
It is the human resource department’s duty to ensure that valuable skills are retained. In the long run, the quality of the human resources improves with time as the powers are transferred from the senior employees to the starters. However, the experience is not always rewarded proportionally in such countries as Australia.
Working Hours
The average Sound engineer works for 37-40 hours a week. However, the employer may require the engineer to avail themselves of 24/7 support in which case one can be called even after their shift has ended. Being on on-call and on-shift arrangement means more benefits regarding overtime compensation.
The average Sound engineer works for 37-40 hours a week. However, the employer may require the engineer to avail themselves of 24/7 support in which case one can be called even after their shift has ended. Being on on-call and on-shift arrangement means more benefits regarding overtime compensation.
Routine maintenance of sound systems and gadgets take almost all the allocated work hours. An engineer must allocate an extra hour or two in their time for on-calls and travel. Again, managerial posts and field assignments demand more time than routine tasks at the office.
Job Outlook
The sound engineering industry is currently experiencing significant changes due to the provision of audio immersions. Spherical sound emerging technologies is hitting the movie and song spaces with the emergence of Dolby Atmos, DTS Neo, and Barco Auro. The techniques, therefore, require more knowledge, speakers, and amplifiers. This is a great deal for sound engineers as the average consumer needs to balk 10 to 22 amps and speakers. Market experts also suggest a major thrust in 3D audio over the current headphones.
There are approximately 48961, 827,11091, 501, and 634 in the US, Canada, UK, Norway, and Australia respectively according to www.ziprecruiter.com/jobs/audio-Sound-Engineer-jobs. With such openings, an investment in education for a Sound engineer is a worthy undertaking.
Conclusion
Technological advancements in various fields lead to system complexities which make the work of a Sound engineer a necessity. At the heart of all modern communication is a Sound engineer. It is not only a rewarding career but also has opportunities for growth to Sound Administrator, Sound Designer, and Managerial positions.
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