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This career option aligns with my skills assessment as well as my person interests.

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Alex Tumay is the audio engineer who records one of my favorite musicians: Young Thug.

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One potential university I could attend in order to earn a degree for audio engineering would be Full Sail University, which is in fact the university that Alex Tumay received his bachelors degree from.  It appears as though an associates and/or bachelors degree is usually required for audio engineers.

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According to ziprecruiter.com, the average annual salary of an audio engineer as of March 2019 is $47,371, with the lowest salary starting at $24,500 and the highest at $96,000.

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Audio Engineer Annual Salary ($47,371 Avg | Mar 2019) - ZipRecruiter

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24,500 - $96,000. How much do Audio Engineer jobs pay a year? The average annual pay for an Audio Engineer Job in the US is $47,371 a year.

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From 2016-26, the job outlook for an audio engineering career is expected to grow by 8% which is the average for most occupations.

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Summary

Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDoTIgKwLZM.

Broadcast, sound, and video technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for media programs.

Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically work indoors in radio, television, movie, and recording studios. They may also work in hotels, arenas, offices, or schools.

Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically need postsecondary education. Depending on the work they do, educational requirements may vary.

The median annual wage for broadcast, sound, and video technicians was $50,000 in May 2020.

Overall employment of broadcast, sound, and video technicians is projected to grow 21 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 18,000 openings for broadcast, sound, and video technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for broadcast, sound, and video technicians.

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of broadcast, sound, and video technicians with similar occupations.

Learn more about broadcast, sound, and video technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Broadcast, Sound, and Video Technicians Do About this section

Broadcast, sound, and video technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies.

Duties

Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically do the following:

Operate, monitor, and adjust audio, video, sound, lighting, and broadcast equipment to ensure consistent quality

Set up and take down equipment for events and live performances

Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording equipment or computers, sometimes using complex software

Synchronize sounds and dialogue with action taking place on television or in movie productions

Convert video and audio records to digital formats for editing on computers

Install audio, video, and lighting equipment in hotels, offices, and schools

Report any problems that arise with complex equipment and make routine repairs

Keep records of recordings and equipment used

These workers may be called broadcast or sound engineering technicians, operators, or engineers. They set up and operate audio and video equipment, and the kind of equipment they use may depend on the particular type of technician or industry. At smaller radio and television stations, broadcast, sound, and video technicians may have more responsibilities. At larger stations, they may do more specialized work, although their job assignments may vary from day to day.

Broadcast, sound, and video technicians share many responsibilities, but their duties may vary with their specific area of focus. The following are examples of types of broadcast, sound, and video technicians:

Audio and video technicians, also known as audio-visual technicians, set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment. They also connect wires and cables and set up and operate sound and mixing boards and related electronic equipment.

Audio and video technicians work with microphones, speakers, video screens, projectors, video monitors, and recording equipment. The equipment they operate is used for live or recorded events such as meetings, concerts, sporting events, podcasts, and news conferences.

Broadcast technicians, also known as broadcast engineers, set up, operate, and maintain equipment that regulates the signal strength, clarity, and ranges of sounds and colors for radio or television broadcasts. They operate transmitters, either in studios or on location in the field, to broadcast radio or television programs. Broadcast technicians also use computer programs to edit audio and video recordings.

Lighting technicians set up, maintain, and dismantle light fixtures, lighting controls, and associated electrical and rigging equipment used for photography, television, film, video, and live productions. They also may focus or operate light fixtures and attach color filters or other lighting accessories.

Sound engineering technicians, also known as audio engineers or sound mixers, assemble and operate sound equipment. They use this equipment to record, synchronize, mix, edit, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects for theater, video, film, television, podcasts, sporting events, and other productions.

Broadcast, sound, and video technicians held about 138,700 jobs in 2020. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up broadcast, sound, and video technicians was distributed as follows:

Audio and video technicians

73,900

Broadcast technicians

28,400

Lighting technicians and media and communication equipment workers, all other

23,300

Sound engineering technicians

13,100

The largest employers of broadcast, sound, and video technicians were as follows:

Radio and television broadcasting

20%

Motion picture and sound recording industries

13

Real estate and rental and leasing

9

Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries

7

Self-employed workers

7

Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically work indoors in radio, television, movie, or recording studios. However, they may work outdoors in all types of weather in order to broadcast news and other programming on location. Audio and video technicians also set up systems in offices, arenas, hotels, schools, hospitals, and homes.

Technicians doing maintenance may climb poles or antenna towers. Those setting up equipment may do heavy lifting.

Work Schedules

Technicians usually work full time. They may occasionally work overtime to meet broadcast deadlines or set up for live events. Evening, weekend, and holiday work is common because most radio and television stations are on the air 24 hours a day.

Technicians who work on motion pictures may be on a tight schedule and may work additional hours to meet contract deadlines with the movie studio.

How to Become a Broadcast, Sound, or Video Technician About this section

Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically need postsecondary education. Depending on the work they do, educational requirements may vary.

Education

Educational requirements for audio and video, lighting, and sound engineering technicians vary from a high school diploma to a college degree, depending on the position. Broadcast technicians typically need an associate's degree.

Prospective broadcast, sound, and video technicians should complete high school classes in math, physics, and electronics. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have skills related to audio and video equipment and related technologies.

Postsecondary programs for audio and video, lighting, and sound engineering technicians may take several months to years to complete. These programs, which may lead to either a nondegree award or a college degree, often provide hands-on experience with the equipment used in many entry-level positions.

Broadcast technicians typically need an associate's degree. In addition to courses in math and science, coursework for prospective broadcast technicians should emphasize practical skills such as video editing and production management.

Training

Because technology is constantly improving, technicians often enroll in continuing education courses and receive on-the-job training to become skilled in new equipment and hardware. On-the-job training includes setting up cables or automation systems, testing electrical equipment, learning the codes and standards of the industry, and following safety procedures.

Newly hired workers may be trained in a variety of ways, depending on the types of products and services the employer provides. In addition, new workers' level of education may also dictate how much training they need.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Although it is not required by most employers, voluntary certification may offer advantages in getting a job as a broadcast or sound engineering technician. Certification tells employers that the technician meets certain industry standards and has kept up to date with new technologies.

The Society of Broadcast Engineers offers operator level, engineering level, broadcast networking, and specialist certifications. Most of these certifications require passing an exam.

The Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association offers the general Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) credential as well as the design CTS and installation CTS. All three credentials require passing an exam and are valid for 3 years.

Other Experience

Gaining practical experience in a high school or college audiovisual department also helps to prepare for work as an audio and video equipment technician.

Advancement

Although many broadcast, sound, and video technicians work first in small markets or at small stations in big markets, they often transfer to larger, better paying radio or television stations after gaining experience and skills. Few large stations hire someone without previous experience, and they value specialized skills.

Experienced workers with strong technical skills may become supervisory broadcast technicians or chief broadcast engineers. To become chief broadcast engineer at large television stations, technicians typically need a bachelor's degree in engineering or computer science.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Technicians need to communicate with supervisors and coworkers to ensure that clients' needs are met and that equipment is set up properly before broadcasts, live performances, and presentations.

Computer skills. Technicians use computer systems to program equipment and edit audio and video recordings.

Manual dexterity. Some technicians set up audio and video equipment and cables, a job that requires a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination. Others adjust small knobs, dials, and sliders during radio and television broadcasts and live performances.

Problem-solving skills. Technicians need to recognize equipment problems and propose possible solutions to them. Employers typically desire applicants with a variety of skills, such as setting up equipment, maintaining the equipment, and troubleshooting and solving any problems that arise.

Median annual wages, May 2020

The median annual wage for broadcast, sound, and video technicians was $50,000 in May 2020. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,770, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,480.

Median annual wages for broadcast, sound, and video technicians in May 2020 were as follows:

Lighting technicians and media and communication equipment workers, all other

$70,980

Sound engineering technicians

53,520

Audio and video technicians

47,920

Broadcast technicians

43,570

In May 2020, the median annual wages for broadcast, sound, and video technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Motion picture and sound recording industries

$60,650

Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries

47,540

Radio and television broadcasting

44,220

Real estate and rental and leasing

44,030

Technicians working in major cities typically earn more than those working in smaller markets.

Technicians usually work full time. They may occasionally work overtime to meet broadcast deadlines or set up for live events. Evening, weekend, and holiday work is common because most radio and television stations are on the air 24 hours a day.

Technicians who work on motion pictures may be on a tight schedule and may work additional hours to meet contract deadlines with the movie studio.

Overall employment of broadcast, sound, and video technicians is projected to grow 21 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 18,000 openings for broadcast, sound, and video technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Much of the projected employment growth for these occupations is due to recovery from the COVID-19 recession that began in 2020 and is likely to occur early in the decade. Growth will vary by occupation (see table).

More companies are increasing their audio and video budgets so they can use video conferencing to reduce travel costs and communicate worldwide with other offices and clients. In addition, an increase in the use of digital signs across a variety of industries, such as hospitals, hotels, and retail stores, should lead to higher demand for audio and video technicians. In schools and universities, more audio and video technicians may be needed to install and maintain interactive whiteboards and wireless projectors so teachers can give multimedia presentations and record lectures.

Broadcast technicians will be in demand to set up, operate, and maintain the electronic equipment used to transmit radio and television programs.

Lighting technicians will continue to be needed to work with lighting and associated equipment used in photography and film and other productions. However, because lighting technicians and all other media and communication equipment workers is a small occupation, the fast growth is expected to result in only about 3,800 new jobs over the decade.

The sound recording and motion picture industries will continue to need sound engineering technicians to improve the sound quality of shows and movies. However, because sound engineering technicians is a small occupation, the fast growth is expected to result in only about 2,300 new jobs over the decade.

Occupational Title

SOC Code

Employment, 2020

Projected Employment, 2030

Change, 2020-30

Employment by Industry

Percent

Numeric

Broadcast, sound, and video technicians

-

138,700

167,300

21

28,600

-

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state's websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

For more career information and links to employment resources, visit
National Association of Broadcasters Audio Engineering Society
For more information about certification and links to employment information for broadcast technicians, visit
Society of Broadcast Engineers
For more information on certification and career information for audio and video technicians, visit
Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association
O*NET
Audio and Video Technicians Broadcast Technicians Lighting Technicians Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other Sound Engineering Technicians

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Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDoTIgKwLZM. Broadcast, sound, and video technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for media programs. Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically work indoors in radio, television, movie, and recording studios. They may also work in hotels, arenas, offices, or schools.

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Musicians are the ones audio engineers work with. This is the job I know I would really like to pursue a career in.

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The musician is the piece of the music industry that everybody is most familiar with as they are the ones that have the public image while the audio engineers usually work behind the scenes.

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Berklee College of Music is one such place where I could major in a specific instrument in order to play professionally with an orchestra or potentially soundtracks.  In an orchestral environment, depending on the instrument you play, you could be in high demand.  But artists who have different motivations for independently making music have very little demand unless there is some sort of fanbase.

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According to ziprecruiter.com, the average annual salary of a freelance musician is $59,648. The lowest salary starts at $11,000 and the highest can reach up to $203,500

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Freelance Musician Annual Salary ($59,734 Avg | Mar 2019) - ZipRecruiter

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11,000 - $209,000. How much do Freelance Musician jobs pay a year? The average annual pay for a Freelance Musician Job in the US is $59,734 a year.

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There are different types of professional musicians.  There are those that work on their own to build an audience using available resources to their advantage, then there are those who attend a school with a major in a specific instrument.