CDCareer Decision

Sound Engineering Technicians Salary in Chicago, IL

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Sound Engineering Technicians in Chicago, IL have a median annual salary of $73,140, with 450 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $31,200 at the 10th percentile to $124,730 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$73,140

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$35.17

Employment

450

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$31,200
10th
$44,640
25th
$73,140
Median
$90,780
75th
$124,730
90th

Local compared with national

Chicago, IL

$73,140

Median annual · 2025

United States

$73,130

Median annual · 2025

The Chicago, IL median is 0.0% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $10).

Top skills

  1. 1.Active ListeningImportance 3.8
  2. 2.SpeakingImportance 3.6
  3. 3.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.5
  4. 4.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.4
  5. 5.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.3
  6. 6.Operations MonitoringImportance 3.3
  7. 7.Operation and ControlImportance 3.3
  8. 8.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.3
  9. 9.WritingImportance 3.1
  10. 10.Active LearningImportance 3.1
  11. 11.MonitoringImportance 3.1
  12. 12.CoordinationImportance 3.1

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Job zone
3

Technology used

  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe Audition
  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Premiere Pro
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • Apple macOS
  • Audio editing software
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Avid Pro Tools
  • Avid Technology audio visual editing software
  • Avid Technology Pro Tools
  • Cisco IOS
  • Facebook

Common tasks

  • Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made.
  • Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
  • Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
  • Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
  • Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
  • Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
  • Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
  • Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards.
  • Keep logs of recordings.
  • Tear down equipment after event completion.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Sound Engineering Technicians salary in other locations

Other occupations in Chicago, IL