Sound Engineering Technicians Salary
The median pay for a sound engineering technicians in North Carolina is $49,150/year ($23.63/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $53,043 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 37.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in North Carolina?
About sound engineering technicians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for sound engineering technicians in North Carolina runs about 33% below the U.S. median of $73K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 39.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for sound engineering technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level sound engineering technicians (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Sound Engineering Technicians salary by metro in North Carolina
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $61K | +24% | 40 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $45K | -9% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track sound engineering technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a sound engineering technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 39.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for sound engineering technicians in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sound engineering technicians typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,772/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 72% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is sound engineering technician a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Local pay runs 33% below the national median — $49K here vs. $73K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for sound engineering technicians?
North Carolina pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do sound engineering technicians make in North Carolina?
The median is $49,150 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,540, and experienced sound engineering technicians can clear $85,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,277/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 39.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a sound engineering technicians salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median sound engineering technicians salary is worth about $53,043 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sound engineering technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.