Sound Engineering Technicians
Operate machines and equipment to record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects in sporting arenas, theater productions, recording studios, or movie and video productions.
AI Impact Summary
Sound Engineering Technicians faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 36/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 68% of all analyzed occupations. Of 14 analyzed tasks, 4 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Sound Engineering Technicians skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
by Case Western Reserve University
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
14 tasks analyzed
Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards.
Keep logs of recordings.
Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made.
Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
Synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles.
Convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving.
Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment.
Tear down equipment after event completion.
Create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film. | 62.25Observed | 39.9% | 10% | |
| Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 8% | |
| Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment. | 70Estimated | 77.2% | 12% | |
| Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 12% | |
| Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 10% | |
| Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 10% | |
| Keep logs of recordings. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made. | 62Estimated | 74.0% | 2% | |
| Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances. | 66.35Observed | 35.5% | 8% | |
| Synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 8% | |
| Convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving. | 57.8Observed | 72.3% | 5% | |
| Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment. | 70Estimated | 61.0% | 5% | |
| Tear down equipment after event completion. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction. | 68.05Observed | 54.2% | 3% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 30.8%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$66,430
per year
Mean Wage
$79,280
per year
Employment
13K
workers
Wage Range
$36,600 - $134,980
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsElectronic Home Entertainment Equipment Installers and Repairers
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Higher risk than 25% of other occupations
Audio-Visual and Multimedia Collections Specialists
28%Higher risk than 28% of other occupations
Directors- Stage, Motion Pictures, Television, and Radio
30%Median salary: $83,480
Higher risk than 36% of other occupations
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians
33%Median salary: $54,830
Higher risk than 57% of other occupations
Technical Directors/Managers
33%Median salary: $83,480
Higher risk than 59% of other occupations
Film and Video Editors
35%Median salary: $70,980
Higher risk than 66% of other occupations
Broadcast Technicians
40%Median salary: $53,920
Higher risk than 82% of other occupations
Prepress Technicians and Workers
47%Median salary: $47,300
Higher risk than 94% of other occupations
Computer Operators
48%Higher risk than 95% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Sound Engineering Technicians professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change