Sound engineering technicians are tasked with setting up audio equipment, ensuring that microphones work, and monitoring and operating the equipment during a performance or an event. They may record and synchronize sound, and they may even work the lights.

Russell Emery says he "never truly intended to be an audio tech." Sure, he’d manned the soundboard in high school and college – where he majored in geography – for various plays and concerts, but he’d always thought of that work as extracurricular.

After graduating though, he took a position at a stage lighting company and later at a professional production company, where he learned how to make professional productions look and sound great. In 2016, Emery was hired to do the same at the presidential debates, working behind the scenes to make sure that the American public heard the questions of the moderators and the views of the candidates.

That’s one of the great things about a career in sound engineering. It can take you to a diversity of places, from theater performances and sporting events to concerts and TV or movie sets.

A DJ, who plays music and moderates the sound at events and venues like weddings, parties and nightclubs, is another type of sound engineering technician. Michael Pachino, a Baltimore-based DJ, focuses on providing the music and entertainment at weddings and bar and bat mitzvahs. And it’s not about just playing songs, Pachino says. It’s about playing the right songs for your crowd, mixing the music seamlessly and hosting the event to the crowd’s tastes.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -1.2% employment growth for sound engineering technicians between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 200 jobs will be lost

Although Emery learned the art of audio engineering through on-the-job training, these days, many hopeful sound engineering technicians will need a postsecondary nondegree award or certificate. Some jobs in the field require at least an associate degree.

Along with learning the technical aspects of sound engineering, these professionals also have to stay on top of changing technology. Emery recommends internships and volunteer work to build your resume and grow your experience.