Sound Recordist Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Sound Recordist in the United States is $125,974 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $158,538
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $110,096 to $143,019
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $95,640

Key Factors That Influence Sound Recordist Salaries

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

How Do Sound Recordist 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 Recordists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $139,478.
  • California: $138,949.
  • Massachusetts: $137,098.

Top Paying Cities for Sound Recordists

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: $158,891
  • San Francisco: $157,151
  • Oakland: $153,839

What Skills Can Increase a Sound Recordist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Alignment (Mentioned in 9.09% Job Postings): Ensuring one’s own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with the strategies, priorities, and goals of our business.
  • Pastoral Care (Mentioned in 18.18% Job Postings): Pastoral care is an ancient model of emotional and spiritual support that can be found in all cultures and traditions. The term is considered[by whom?] inclusive of distinctly non-religious forms of support as well as of those from religious communities. Humanist groups, which act on behalf of non-religious people, have developed pastoral care offerings in response to growing demand for the provision of like-minded support from populations undergoing rapid secularisation, such as the UK. Humanists UK for example manages the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network, a network of trained and accredited volunteers who operate throughout prisons, hospitals, and universities in the UK. The terms pastoral care and pastoral support are preferred because these sound less religious than terms such as chaplaincy. Surveys have shown that more than two thirds of patients support non-religious pastoral care being available in British institutions. Similar offerings are available from humanist groups around Europe and North America.
  • Administrative Support (Mentioned in 9.09% Job Postings): Administrative support means technical assistance, studies, surveys, or securing volunteers to assist the department in fulfilling its administrative responsibilities.
Skills Demand Percentage
Alignment 9.09%
Pastoral Care 18.18%
Administrative Support 9.09%

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 Recordist's salary.

  • Delegating: Can increase your salary by up to 30%.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Team Building: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Delegating $163,766
30%
Alignment $149,909
19%
Team Building $139,831
11%

Sound Recordist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Sound Recordist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Sound Recordist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Sound Recordist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Sound Recordist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$151,169$73.020%

How Education impacts a Sound Recordist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Sound Recordists enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Sound Recordist with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $104,206 and $111,614).

Sound Recordist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Sound Recordist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.8%
High School 3.6%
Associates 3.6%
Bachelors 10.7%
Masters 73.2%
Doctorate 7.1%

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

Understanding how a Sound Recordist'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
$110,096
Average $125,974/year
$143,019
$9,175
Average $10,498/month
$11,918
$2,117
Average $2,423/week
$2,750
$53
Average $61/hour
$69
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $143,019 $11,918 $2,750 $69
Average $125,974 $10,498 $2,423 $61
25th Percentile $110,096 $9,175 $2,117 $53

Most common benefits for Sound Recordist

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

Common company salaries for Sound Recordist

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

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FAQ about Sound Recordist

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

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Sound Recordist roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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