California Median
$78,150
per year
Hourly Rate
$37.57
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+7% vs US median
US median $73,130
State Rank
#6 of 35
4,060 employed here
How much does a Sound Engineering Technician make in California?
A Sound Engineering Technician working in California earns a median salary of $78,150 per year, or about $37.57 per hour. That is 7% above the national median of $73,130 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $45,720 while the top 10% make $143,130 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $53,150 and $100,910 a year.
Sound Engineering Technician salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,720 | $21.98 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $53,150 | $25.55 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $78,150 | $37.57 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $100,910 | $48.51 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $143,130 | $68.81 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 6th out of 35 states and territories for Sound Engineering Technician pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Sound Engineering Technician salary in other states
New Jersey $115,190District of Columbia $106,630New York $87,510Nevada $84,570Maryland $79,990Georgia $77,010Kentucky $74,100Illinois $73,130Indiana $73,130Connecticut $72,800Florida $70,360Arizona $66,350New Hampshire $65,630Ohio $64,030Nebraska $63,810Massachusetts $63,250Kansas $62,710Missouri $61,750Colorado $60,630Tennessee $60,500Montana $57,600Iowa $57,400Louisiana $55,530Idaho $54,970Texas $54,370Michigan $51,840Virginia $49,920Pennsylvania $49,490North Carolina $49,150Maine $48,380Wisconsin $46,780New Mexico $45,690South Carolina $45,240Utah $36,400
Working as a Sound Engineering Technician in California
Nationally, about 13,000 people work as Sound Engineering Technicians in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($78,150) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Sound Engineering Technician make in California?
The median Sound Engineering Technician salary in California is $78,150 per year, or about $37.57 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $45,720 at the entry level to $143,130 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Sound Engineering Technicians about 7% more than the national median of $73,130. California ranks 6th out of 35 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Sound Engineering Technicians?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $78,150 a year. About 4,060 Sound Engineering Technicians are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Sound Engineering Technician salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.