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Sound Editor Salary in the United States

How much does a Sound Editor make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Sound Editor in the United States is $67,835 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, a Sound Editor's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,056
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,582 to $73,709
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $57,799
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Sound Editor Salaries

A Sound Editor's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Sound Editor Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Sound Editors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $75,107.
  • California: $74,822.
  • Massachusetts: $73,825.

Top Paying Cities for Sound Editors

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $85,561
  • San Francisco: $84,624
  • Oakland: $82,840

What Skills Can Increase a Sound Editor's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.84% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • New Product Development (Mentioned in 2.25% Job Postings): In business and engineering, new product development (NPD) covers the complete process of bringing a new product to market. A central aspect of NPD is product design, along with various business considerations. New product development is described broadly as the transformation of a market opportunity into a product available for sale. The product can be tangible (something physical which one can touch) or intangible (like a service, experience, or belief), though sometimes services and other processes are distinguished from "products." NPD requires an understanding of customer needs and wants, the competitive environment, and the nature of the market. Cost, time and quality are the main variables that drive customer needs. Aiming at these three variables, innovative companies develop continuous practices and strategies to better satisfy customer requirements and to increase their own market share by a regular development of new products. There are many uncertainties and challenges which companies must face throughout the process. The use of best practices and the elimination of barriers to communication are the main concerns for the management of the NPD .[citation needed]
  • Technical Support (Mentioned in 1.57% Job Postings): Offering hands-on assistance and solutions to end-users in addressing and troubleshooting technical issues.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.84%
New Product Development 2.25%
Technical Support 1.57%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Sound Editor's salary.

  • Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
  • Business Acumen: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Interpersonal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Team Development $86,151
27%
Business Acumen $84,794
25%
Interpersonal Communication $84,116
24%
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Sound Editor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Sound Editor roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and MFG Durable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Sound Editor positions in Retail & Wholesale or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Sound Editor as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Sound Editor

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$88,186$42.030%
MFG Durable$81,402$39.020%
Chemicals$74,619$36.010%

Sound Editor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Sound Editor's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$62,582
Average $67,835/year
$73,709
$5,215
Average $5,653/month
$6,142
$1,203
Average $1,305/week
$1,417
$30
Average $33/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $73,709 $6,142 $1,417 $35
Average $67,835 $5,653 $1,305 $33
25th Percentile $62,582 $5,215 $1,203 $30

Most common benefits for Sound Editor

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Sound Editor

Here are companies hiring for Sound Editor and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Sound Editor

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Sound Editor?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Sound Editor roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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