Sound Engineering Technicians Salary
The median pay for a sound engineering technicians in Tennessee is $60,500/year ($29.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $158K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $67,387 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Tennessee?
About sound engineering technicians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for sound engineering technicians in Tennessee runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $73K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level sound engineering technicians (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $158K or more, a $116K spread from bottom to top.
Sound Engineering Technicians salary by metro in Tennessee
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $71K | +18% | 320 |
| Memphis | $48K | -21% | 40 |
| Knoxville | $46K | -24% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track sound engineering technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a sound engineering technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 28.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for sound engineering technicians in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sound engineering technicians typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,534/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $61K here vs. $73K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for sound engineering technicians?
Tennessee pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — below the national median.
How much do sound engineering technicians make in Tennessee?
The median is $60,500 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,230, and experienced sound engineering technicians can clear $158,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,221/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 28.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a sound engineering technicians salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $67,387 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.