Jobs Similar to Sound Engineering Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to sound engineering technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Prepress Technicians and Workers, Audio and Video Technicians and Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators.
Sound Engineering Technicians: $73,130 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Sound Engineering Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prepress Technicians and Workers | 74% | $48,690−33% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Audio and Video TechniciansSame group | 74% | $58,100−21% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators | 73% | $40,610−44% | High school |
| 4 | Camera Operators, Television, Video, and FilmSame group | 72% | $74,990+3% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Motion Picture Projectionists | 69% | $38,270−48% | High school |
| 6 | Office Machine Operators, Except Computer | 67% | $40,960−44% | High school |
| 7 | Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 67% | $52,540−28% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Film and Video EditorsSame group | 66% | $75,420+3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Etchers and Engravers | 65% | $43,310−41% | High school |
| 10 | PhotographersSame group | 64% | $44,660−39% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Broadcast TechniciansSame group | 64% | $59,570−19% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians | 63% | $39,460−46% | High school |
| 13 | Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners | 62% | $46,420−37% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Gem and Diamond Workers | 61% | $52,540Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 15 | Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers | 61% | $52,600−28% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Print Binding and Finishing Workers | 61% | $42,290−42% | High school |
| 17 | Remote Sensing Technicians | 60% | $62,280Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | 60% | $58,000−21% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 60% | $74,510+2% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Media Technical Directors/Managers | 60% | $90,360Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Prepress Technicians and Workers
74% similar · $48,690 (−33%) · Training or associate
- 2Audio and Video Technicians
74% similar · $58,100 (−21%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators
73% similar · $40,610 (−44%) · High school
- 4Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
72% similar · $74,990 (+3%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 5Motion Picture Projectionists
69% similar · $38,270 (−48%) · High school
- 6Office Machine Operators, Except Computer
67% similar · $40,960 (−44%) · High school
- 7Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
67% similar · $52,540 (−28%) · Training or associate
- 8Film and Video Editors
66% similar · $75,420 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Etchers and Engravers
65% similar · $43,310 (−41%) · High school
- 10Photographers
64% similar · $44,660 (−39%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 11Broadcast Technicians
64% similar · $59,570 (−19%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 12Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
63% similar · $39,460 (−46%) · High school
- 13Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
62% similar · $46,420 (−37%) · Training or associate
- 14Gem and Diamond Workers
61% similar · $52,540 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 15Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers
61% similar · $52,600 (−28%) · Training or associate
- 16Print Binding and Finishing Workers
61% similar · $42,290 (−42%) · High school
- 17Remote Sensing Technicians
60% similar · $62,280 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
60% similar · $58,000 (−21%) · Training or associate
- 19Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
60% similar · $74,510 (+2%) · Training or associate
- 20Media Technical Directors/Managers
60% similar · $90,360 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than sound engineering technicians.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators73% similar · High school
- Motion Picture Projectionists69% similar · High school
- Office Machine Operators, Except Computer67% similar · High school
- Etchers and Engravers65% similar · High school
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians63% similar · High school
- Print Binding and Finishing Workers61% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for sound engineering technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where sound engineering technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Prepress Technicians and Workers (74)
- Motion Picture Projectionists (71)
- Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators (68)
- Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers (67)
- Gem and Diamond Workers (61)
- Media Technical Directors/Managers (61)
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (55)
- Craft Artists (54)
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners (51)
Questions about jobs like sound engineering technicians
What jobs are most similar to sound engineering technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Prepress Technicians and Workers (74% similar), Audio and Video Technicians (74% similar), Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators (73% similar), Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film (72% similar) and Motion Picture Projectionists (69% similar).
Which jobs like sound engineering technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film ($74,990, +3%; usually training or an associate degree), Film and Video Editors ($75,420, +3%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians ($74,510, +2%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with sound engineering technicians ($73,130). Without more preparation than sound engineering technicians usually need: Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film and Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.