How much does an Audio Operator make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Audio Operator in the United States is $59,606 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.
However, an Audio Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $73,192
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $53,030 to $66,717
Key Factors That Influence Audio Operator Salaries
An Audio Operator'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 Operator Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of an Audio Operator'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:
How Do Audio Operator 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 Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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: $75,181
San Francisco: $74,358
Oakland: $72,791
San Jose, CA$75,181
San Francisco, CA$74,358
Oakland, CA$72,791
New York, NY$68,630
Paramus, NJ$67,795
Queens Village, NY$67,792
Passaic, NJ$67,736
Bergenfield, NJ$67,730
Stamford, CT$67,599
Huntington, NY$67,575
Newark, NJ$67,134
Bridgeport, CT$67,008
Vallejo, CA$66,890
New Brunswick, NJ$66,866
Petaluma, CA$66,830
Middlesex, NJ$66,717
Somerset, NJ$66,675
Santa Cruz, CA$66,598
Boston, MA$66,234
Monterey, CA$66,025
Seattle, WA$65,888
Santa Rosa, CA$65,877
Los Angeles, CA$65,859
Juneau, AK$65,704
Washington, DC$65,638
Orange, CA$65,426
Santa Ana, CA$65,269
Long Beach, CA$65,209
Anaheim, CA$65,197
Anchorage, AK$65,167
Santa Maria, CA$64,988
Everett, WA$64,977
Danbury, CT$64,767
Bremerton, WA$64,684
Tacoma, WA$64,470
New Suffolk, NY$64,469
Sacramento, CA$64,452
Santa Barbara, CA$64,386
Trenton, NJ$64,321
San Diego, CA$64,321
Brockton, MA$64,255
Fairbanks, AK$64,109
Lompoc, CA$63,957
Lowell, MA$63,909
Ventura, CA$63,898
Nashua, NH$63,886
Stockton, CA$63,880
Modesto, CA$63,445
Poughkeepsie, NY$63,313
Olympia, WA$63,200
Kennewick, WA$63,200
New Haven, CT$63,176
Lawrence, MA$62,962
Hartford, CT$62,902
Riverside, CA$62,890
New Bedford, MA$62,831
Richland, WA$62,831
Bakersfield, CA$62,747
San Bernardino, CA$62,723
New Britain, CT$62,717
Atlantic City, NJ$62,717
New London, CT$62,694
Norwich, CT$62,676
Portsmouth, NH$62,664
Boulder, CO$62,537
Portland, OR$62,455
Worcester, MA$62,449
Minneapolis, MN$62,264
Philadelphia, PA$62,181
Honolulu, HI$61,984
Saint Paul, MN$61,956
Vineland, NJ$61,943
Providence, RI$61,770
Chicago, IL$61,597
Bellingham, WA$61,525
Springfield, MA$61,478
Baltimore, MD$61,460
Chico, CA$61,311
Pittsfield, MA$61,150
Manchester, NH$61,037
Spokane, WA$60,774
Denver, CO$60,768
Albany, NY$60,488
Troy, NY$60,464
Nassau, NY$60,401
Schenectady, NY$60,339
Wilmington, DE$60,291
Burlington, VT$60,208
Salem, OR$60,184
Portland, ME$59,999
Yakima, WA$59,940
Rochester, MN$59,755
Reno, NV$59,725
Fresno, CA$59,725
Milwaukee, WI$59,672
Detroit, MI$59,612
Ann Arbor, MI$59,602
Allentown, PA$59,594
Colorado Springs, CO$59,493
Syracuse, NY$59,463
Carson City, NV$59,463
Houston, TX$59,379
Eugene, OR$59,350
Gary, IN$59,278
Springfield, OR$59,230
Bismarck, ND$59,219
Galveston, TX$59,177
Medford, OR$59,087
Fort Collins, CO$59,064
Concord, NH$59,034
Austin, TX$59,016
Mesa, AZ$58,891
Reading, PA$58,885
Phoenix, AZ$58,879
Dallas, TX$58,861
Saint Cloud, MN$58,804
Madison, WI$58,724
Utica, NY$58,563
Rochester, NY$58,468
Des Moines, IA$58,462
Raleigh, NC$58,456
Atlanta, GA$58,366
Battle Creek, MI$58,348
Salt Lake City, UT$58,330
Lancaster, PA$58,241
Harrisburg, PA$58,158
Kansas City, MO$58,098
Champaign, IL$58,086
Kansas City, KS$58,086
Fort Worth, TX$58,080
Columbus, OH$58,070
Boca Raton, FL$58,056
Pittsburgh, PA$58,032
Richmond, VA$58,009
Indianapolis, IN$57,997
Cleveland, OH$57,991
Las Vegas, NV$57,919
Cincinnati, OH$57,919
Petersburg, VA$57,830
Huntsville, AL$57,740
Lansing, MI$57,700
Lebanon, PA$57,693
Pueblo, CO$57,687
Appleton, WI$57,669
Buffalo, NY$57,645
Dayton, OH$57,627
Racine, WI$57,615
Charlotte, NC$57,609
Saint Louis, MO$57,591
York, PA$57,556
Elkhart, IN$57,556
Gastonia, NC$57,544
Billings, MT$57,530
Beaumont, TX$57,514
Lorain, OH$57,502
Benton Harbor, MI$57,490
Toledo, OH$57,478
Binghamton, NY$57,448
Rock Hill, SC$57,442
Rockford, IL$57,412
Springfield, IL$57,389
Elyria, OH$57,383
Fargo, ND$57,383
Flagstaff, AZ$57,341
Fort Lauderdale, FL$57,305
Duluth, MN$57,269
Miami, FL$57,269
Cheyenne, WY$57,228
Grand Forks, ND$57,228
Bangor, ME$57,097
Cedar Rapids, IA$57,031
Durham, NC$57,006
Louisville, KY$57,001
Grand Rapids, MI$56,989
Hialeah, FL$56,983
Casper, WY$56,900
Scranton, PA$56,828
New Orleans, LA$56,810
Virginia Beach, VA$56,805
Akron, OH$56,775
Peoria, IL$56,697
Sarasota, FL$56,685
Nashville, TN$56,644
Omaha, NE$56,644
Green Bay, WI$56,644
Baton Rouge, LA$56,614
Charleston, SC$56,602
Jamestown, NY$56,572
Davenport, IA$56,572
Tucson, AZ$56,542
Saint Petersburg, FL$56,506
Tampa, FL$56,495
Evansville, IN$56,459
Port Arthur, TX$56,459
Bradenton, FL$56,435
Santa Fe, NM$56,328
Orlando, FL$56,220
Clearwater, FL$56,202
Canton, OH$56,077
La Crosse, WI$56,077
Albuquerque, NM$56,042
Newport News, VA$56,036
High Point, NC$56,018
Ogden, UT$55,994
Corpus Christi, TX$55,946
Norfolk, VA$55,910
Laramie, WY$55,910
Rock Island, IL$55,875
Saginaw, MI$55,863
Jacksonville, FL$55,857
Salisbury, NC$55,845
Boise, ID$55,833
Moline, IL$55,803
Fort Myers, FL$55,785
Memphis, TN$55,773
Tulsa, OK$55,744
Waterloo, IA$55,708
Spartanburg, SC$55,648
Lincoln, NE$55,618
Fort Wayne, IN$55,606
Provo, UT$55,600
Cedar Falls, IA$55,529
San Antonio, TX$55,505
Greensboro, NC$55,481
South Bend, IN$55,475
Savannah, GA$55,410
Muskegon, MI$55,386
Birmingham, AL$55,380
Winston Salem, NC$55,351
Lake Charles, LA$55,207
Anderson, IN$55,195
Lexington, KY$55,177
Augusta, GA$55,159
Greenville, SC$55,159
Lima, OH$55,112
Wichita, KS$55,106
Tuscaloosa, AL$55,106
Columbia, SC$55,052
Springfield, OH$55,040
Asheville, NC$54,945
Bloomington, IN$54,903
Knoxville, TN$54,689
Shreveport, LA$54,683
Wilmington, NC$54,605
Roanoke, VA$54,605
Topeka, KS$54,498
Frankfort, KY$54,491
Oklahoma City, OK$54,450
Chillicothe, OH$54,426
Longview, TX$54,420
Melbourne, FL$54,414
Sioux Falls, SD$54,319
Mobile, AL$54,313
Terre Haute, IN$54,289
Altoona, PA$54,253
Amarillo, TX$54,212
Killeen, TX$54,194
Fayetteville, AR$54,146
Chattanooga, TN$54,128
Sioux City, IA$54,075
Idaho Falls, ID$54,063
Lynchburg, VA$54,015
Gainesville, FL$53,937
Portsmouth, OH$53,908
Little Rock, AR$53,896
Lafayette, LA$53,872
Youngstown, OH$53,872
Daytona Beach, FL$53,836
Clarksville, TN$53,830
Pensacola, FL$53,824
Temple, TX$53,820
Hopkinsville, KY$53,645
Erie, PA$53,633
Florence, SC$53,610
Charleston, WV$53,514
Great Falls, MT$53,484
Macon, GA$53,401
Tallahassee, FL$53,395
Fayetteville, NC$53,383
Waco, TX$53,371
Helena, MT$53,329
Pine Bluff, AR$53,307
Vincennes, IN$53,234
Lubbock, TX$53,210
Alamogordo, NM$53,175
Twin Falls, ID$53,121
Rapid City, SD$53,103
Jackson, MS$52,996
Huntington, WV$52,992
Greenville, MS$52,990
Parkersburg, WV$52,929
Montgomery, AL$52,918
Wichita Falls, TX$52,859
Springfield, MO$52,859
Biloxi, MS$52,829
Monroe, LA$52,769
Johnstown, PA$52,727
Sumter, SC$52,704
Columbus, GA$52,698
Pascagoula, MS$52,584
Abilene, TX$52,584
Kingsport, TN$52,429
Albany, GA$52,429
Gulfport, MS$52,412
Alexandria, LA$52,215
Fort Smith, AR$52,066
El Paso, TX$51,905
Las Cruces, NM$51,637
Harlingen, TX$51,485
Pocatello, ID$51,476
Florence, AL$51,398
Brownsville, TX$51,386
Mcallen, TX$51,261
Dothan, AL$51,178
Columbus, MS$50,824
Altus, OK$50,546
Lawton, OK$50,433
Pierre, SD$50,218
What Skills Can Increase an Audio Operator's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.99% 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.
Plumbing (Mentioned in 2.15% Job Postings): Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. Heating and cooling (HVAC), waste removal, and potable water delivery are among the most common uses for plumbing, but it is not limited to these applications. The word derives from the Latin for lead, plumbum, as the first effective pipes used in the Roman era were lead pipes. In the developed world, plumbing infrastructure is critical to public health and sanitation. Boilermakers and pipefitters are not plumbers although they work with piping as part of their trade and their work can include some plumbing.
Audio Systems (Mentioned in 1.34% 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)
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 Operator's salary.
Digital Transformation: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Audio Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Audio Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 85% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Software & Networking and Energy & Utilities
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average.
In contrast, Audio Operator positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Audio Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for an Audio Operator
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking
$77,488
$37.0
30%
Energy & Utilities
$74,508
$36.0
25%
Pharmaceuticals
$72,719
$35.0
22%
Biotechnology
$71,527
$34.0
20%
Financial Services
$70,335
$34.0
18%
Audio Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how an Audio Operator'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.
Salaries for an Audio Operator can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $53,637 in 2023
to around $52,175 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Audio Operator salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Audio Operator Over Time
$???
$53,637
$52,626
$52,175
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$53,637
2024
$52,626
2025
$52,175
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Audio Operator
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Audio Operator
Here are companies hiring for Audio Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
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FAQ about Audio Operator
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Audio Operator?
The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Audio Operator 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.
