Throughout the years, audio and sound engineering have become two different career paths in the audioand music industries

Audio professionals on the production side of the industry work in recording studios on mixing, dubbing, and producing the sound effects and minute touches that make for a memorable movie or CD.

Engineers on the tech side, however, work to ensure the production and care of the audio equipment that audio production and recording wouldn't exist without.

For the most part, the phrase “audio engineer” fits the former definition, not the latter, and that’s why audio engineering schools, like the ones you can find here, place emphasis on teaching students how to record and create the best-sounding records possible.

What does an audio or sound engineer do?

Because of their varied skill sets and the crucial roles they play in the media, audio engineers are in demand no matter what industry they work in. From TV shows and films to CD albums and radio stations, audio engineers make it possible for the transmission and translation of sound, atmosphere, and music to happen. They’re a key component of any audio or film production and tend to work in groups, especially on larger productions such as full-length feature films.

In order to tackle all of the duties that are required of them as well as the delicate, intricate equipment that untrained hand, aspiring audio engineers must first get the right educational training from an audio engineering school. There they’ll learn about mixing consoles, patch bays, dynamic processors (such aslimiters & compressors), cable connectors, microphones, monitors, and sampling machines— and, not least in importance, how to mix properly to bring it all together.

How much money do audio engineers make and what kind of jobs can I get as an audio engineer?

Do you want to find out how much audio engineers bring home for all their hard work? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that since May 2006, the average annual income for sound engineers was $43,010, with the top 10 percent in the field putting away more than $90,770 and the bottom 10 percent pocketing less than $21,050.

Though the audio engineering field is not the biggest — the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that about 100,000 to 200,000 people are actively holding down jobs in it, which means the potential for explosive growth is definitely there. In fact, the government predicts that employment in audio engineering and similar pursuits is due to increase by 17 percent sometime between 2006 and 2016. Specifically, sound engineers will see a 9% increase in employment during that period.

Audio engineers are necessary in virtually every media industry — whether it’s for dubbing television shows, mixing a film soundtracks, or helping to record the latest hit record — you will come across several options for work. That said, the Bureau of Labor Statistics warns that job competition for audio engineers in urban areas can be very competitive since salaries are higher and most candidates are well-trained and highly qualified.