Audio Video Engineer Salary in the United States

How much does an Audio Video Engineer make in the United States?

As of November 01, 2026, the average salary for an Audio Video Engineer in the United States is $91,711 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

However, an Audio Video Engineer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $110,273
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $82,968 to $101,427
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,007

Key Factors That Influence Audio Video Engineer Salaries

An Audio Video Engineer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Audio Video Engineer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Audio Video Engineer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $60,507
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $73,657
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $90,997
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $86,879
  • Expert (over 8 years): $135,482
Levels Salary
Audio Vis... Level Audio Video Engineer$60,507
Audio Vis... Level Audio Video Engineer$73,657
Audio Vid... Level Audio Video Engineer$90,997
Audio Vis... Level Audio Video Engineer$86,879
Voice Com... Level Audio Video Engineer$135,482

How Do Audio Video Engineer 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 Audio Video Engineers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $101,543.
  • California: $101,158.
  • Massachusetts: $99,810.

Top Paying Cities for Audio Video Engineers

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: $115,676
  • San Francisco: $114,409
  • Oakland: $111,998

What Skills Can Increase an Audio Video Engineer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 13.34% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Audio Systems (Mentioned in 1.53% Job Postings): Audio systems a system of electronic equipment for recording or reproducing sound. sound system. electronic equipment - equipment that involves the controlled conduction of electrons (especially in a gas or vacuum or semiconductor)
  • Digital Signage (Mentioned in 1.1% Job Postings): Digital signage is a segment of electronic signage. Digital displays use technologies such as LCD, LED, projection and e-paper to display digital images, video, web pages, weather data, restaurant menus, or text.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 13.34%
Audio Systems 1.53%
Digital Signage 1.1%

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 an Audio Video Engineer's salary.

  • Listening: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Technical Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Listening $102,717
12%
Time Management $99,048
8%
Technical Skills $99,048
8%

Audio Video Engineer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Audio Video Engineer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 120% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Retail & Wholesale and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average. In contrast, Audio Video Engineer positions in Software & Networking or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Audio Video Engineer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Audio Video Engineer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$146,738$71.060%
Construction$137,567$66.050%
Healthcare$128,396$62.040%
Energy & Utilities$119,225$57.030%
Insurance$114,639$55.025%

Audio Video Engineer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Audio Video Engineer'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 November 01, 2026
$82,968
Average $91,711/year
$101,427
$6,914
Average $7,643/month
$8,452
$1,596
Average $1,764/week
$1,951
$40
Average $44/hour
$49
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $101,427 $8,452 $1,951 $49
Average $91,711 $7,643 $1,764 $44
25th Percentile $82,968 $6,914 $1,596 $40

Most common benefits for Audio Video Engineer

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

Common company salaries for Audio Video Engineer

Here are companies hiring for Audio Video Engineer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Audio Video Engineer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Audio Video Engineer?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Audio Video Engineer roles, with salaries approximately 60% 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.)

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