A skilled individual who works with the mechanics of capturing, mixing, and reproducing of sound are known as Sound Engineer. They are in charge of assembling, operating, and managing the technical equipment required to record, amplify, enhance, mix, or recreate the sound.
The average salary of a Sound Engineer is determined by various parameters such as Job Profiles, experience, company, etc. The average annual salary of a Sound Engineer in India is around INR 3,94,070 which increases with experience and expertise in the field.
See more: Sound Engineering Courses
Candidates after completing their studies in Sound Engineering can find lucrative and highly paid job opportunities in private as well as government sectors, however they are paid according to their qualifications. The highest salary of a Sound Engineer in India is around INR 8,00,000 per annum.
Table of Contents
3.1 Career Pathway
3.2 Entrance Exams
3.3 Top Colleges
4.1 Experience Wise
4.3 Company Wise
4.4 Top Recruiters
Salary of Sound Engineer: Highlights
| Profession | Sound Engineer |
| Eligibility | Cleared 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, & Mathematics as main subjects from a recognised Board or equivalent. |
| Average Cost | INR 20,000 to INR 8,00,000 |
| Courses Level | Bachelors, Masters, Certification, Diploma, PG Diploma, etc. |
| Online Courses | Available |
| Average Salary | INR 30,000 per month |
| Job Profiles | Sound Technician, Sound Designer, Studio Engineer, Sound Editor, Music Producer, Radio Sound Engineer, Acoustic Consultant, Recording Engineer, System Tuner Engineer, Music Engineer, Game Audio Engineer, and more. |
| Top Recruiters | Radio Mirchi, Sentimental Productions, Sun TV Network, and more. |
Check out: Diploma Courses in Sound Engineering
What does a Sound Engineer do?
- Sound engineering is far more than merely fiddling with knobs on a complicated console. Their significant responsibility is to use their technical abilities and expertise to capture or generate crystal clear sound for different applications on various platforms.
- Sound engineers are in charge of both the technical and creative aspects of audio production with the overall goal of delivering the needed sound quality. The duties mainly consist of installing and monitoring the equipment used.
- They are also in charge of configuring the different components of a sound system, installing audio cables, and ensuring that all electrical connections are perfectly built. Even after installing the equipment, the sound engineer does a soundcheck. It ensures that the levels of the different sound components and the overall quality of the sound in the space are correct.
- The essential aspect of the job is keeping up with developments in their domain by continuing training and networking with others in the same business.
- While doing so, they also meet and establish professional connections with clients and artists.
How to become a Sound Engineer?
An individual seeking to develop a career as a Sound Engineer, one must fulfill the eligibility requirements and possess certain necessary skills. To become a Sound Engineer aspirants are required to pass their 10+2 in Science stream and complete their bachelor's degree in Sound Engineering and other relevant fields. Candidates may also be required to qualify entrance exams conducted at national or state level.
Some of the important steps or tips to become a Sound Engineer are mentioned below for your reference:
Career Pathways
The following are various pathways that can easily sail you towards becoming a sound engineer.
- Class 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, & Mathematics as main subjects with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks from a recognized Board.
- Bachelor's Degree (B.Tech./ B.Sc./ B.A.) or Diploma in Sound Engineering, Acoustics, Audio & Music Production, Music Technology, Sound Production, Electronic Music Production, Sound Recording & Engineering, Sound Design, or similar fields.
- Master's degree (M.Tech./ M.Sc./ M.A.) programs in the same profession might help you improve your abilities and expertise after your Diploma/ Bachelor in Sound Engineering or similar fields.
- Aspirants can also pursue various Certification Or Diploma courses, one can opt Post Graduate Diploma In Sound Engineering, Certificate course in Sound Engineering, etc.
See also: How to become Sound Engineer
Entrance Exams
Some of the popular entrance exam for admission to Sound Engineering courses are given below in the table chart:
| Under Graduate Level | JEE Main, JEE Advance, DUET, MET, BITSAT, VITEEE, SRMEEE, KIITEE, IPU CET, COMEDK |
| Master’s Level | GATE, BHU PET, IPU CET |
Top Colleges
Given below is the list of the top colleges/universities in India offering Sound Engineering courses or other related courses in the same field:
| Colleges/ Universities Names | Average Fees |
|---|---|
| IIT Kharagpur | INR 45,000 to 2,30,000 |
| Zee Institute of Media Arts (ZIMA) | INR 85,000 to 4,60,000 |
| Film and Television Institute of India | INR 34,000 to 6,78,000 |
| National Institute of Film and Fine Arts (NIFFA) | INR 77,000 to 5,56,000 |
| Crypto Cipher Academy | INR 45,000 to 5,60,000 |
| Deviprasad Goenka Management College of Media Studies | INR 47,000 to 4,67,780 |
| Atharva Institute of Film and Television (AIFT) | INR 75,000 to 7,70,900 |
| Mumbai Music Institute | INR 78,000 to 5,99,000 |
| TGC Animation and Multimedia | INR 46,000 to 3,80,000 |
Also Read: Courses to Become a Sound Engineer
Skills Required to Become a Sound Engineer
To be successful in their jobs, sound engineers must possess a variety of specialized competencies. These skills might help to tackle problems in the upcoming future in their profession. Some of the essential skills required to become a successful Sound Engineers are tabulated below:
| Creativity | Communication | Technical Competence |
| Music Recording Technology | Continuous Learning | Problem Solving |
| Systems Troubleshooting | Studio Management | Patience |
| Resourceful | Sound Editing | Equalization |
| Sound Testing | Equipment Operation | Flexibility |
| Active Listening | Teamwork | Production Management |
| Sound/ Music Understanding | Responsible | Resilient |
Sound Engineer Salary in India
Sound Engineers can find lucrative jobs in private as well as government sectors, however the average salary of a Sound Engineer varies depending upon various parameters such as Experience, Job-Profile, and Companies, etc. According to Payscale, the average salary of a Sound Engineer in India is around INR 3,94,009 per annum which increases with experience and expertise in this field.
The average salary of a Sound Engineer can be determined according to the Experience, Job-Profile, and Companies, etc. The salary of a Sound Engineer is mentioned below in terms of various aspects.
See Also Top PGD Colleges in India
Experience Wise Salary
Many companies prefer graduates having relevant work experience since it helps them prepare for jobs and improve general business knowledge. Given below the average salary of a sound engineer in India as per their experience level.
| Experience Years | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 0-4 Years | INR 3,11,000 |
| 5-9 Years | INR 4,82,000 |
| 10-19 Years | INR 5,12,000 |
| 20+ Years | INR 10,00,000 and more |
Job Profiles Wise Salary
Some of the top job profiles of a Sound Engineers along with their average annual salary is mentioned below in the table chart:
| Job Profiles | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Broadcast Engineer | INR 2,62,000 |
| Audio-visual Technician | INR 2,70,000 |
| Sound Technician | INR 2,77,000 |
| Audio Engineer | INR 3,16,000 |
| Sound Designer | INR 4,24,000 |
Company-Wise Salary
Many reputed companies offer employment opportunities to Sound Engineers having years of existence and specialization, and are paid high salaries. Listed below are a few top companies and their average packages.
| Company Name | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Red FM | INR 1,80,000 to INR 1,92,000 |
| Saregama India | INR 3,12,000 to INR 3,36,000 |
| Wipro | INR 3,48,000 to INR 3,94,000 |
| Sun TV Network | INR 2,88,000 to INR 4,20,000 |
| Zee Entertainment | INR 7,08,000 to INR 7,68,000 |
Top recruiters
Sound Engineers are mostly recruited by Mass Media and Journalism based companies or agencies. In India, Sound Engineers can easily find lucrative and highly paid jobs in private and government sectors. Some or the top and popular recruiters that hire Sound Engineer are tabulated below:
| Evoke | Phoebus |
| Shemaroo Entertainment | Seamedu |
| UC Irvine | GMonks Entertainment |
| Reverb Sound Studio | BYJU’S |
| Zee Entertainment | Moonfrog Labs |
| HT Media | 9X Media |
| 94.3 MY FM | Axis Entertainment |
Check: Benefits of Career as a Sound Engineer
Scope of Sound Engineer in India
The scope of Sound Engineering is so vast and it offers a wide range of job opportunities. Sound Engineering is not very popular in India, However with the development of Media and Communication due to technological improvements, the demand for Sound Engineers has increased dramatically in recent years. Sound Engineering is surely a profitable career option in terms of salary and employment.
- Candidates who wish to forward their studies in sound engineering can pursue a master's degree, such as a Masters in Sound Engineering or a Masters in Sound Arts. These courses offer more relevant skill sets and an in-depth understanding of the area.
- The opportunities after acquiring higher skills are endless for sound engineers in India across the platforms like film, advertising, music studios, theatres, live events, radio, game, sound for digital application developers, and more.
- Option for an array of roles like SFX editor, Mix Engineer, Foley Artist, Music editor, Re-recording Mixing Specialist, Sound Recordist, and others.
- India continues to be one of the large consumers of audios and videos. As a result, the scope of Sound Engineer is among the top in the entertainment business.
Sound Engineer Salary: FAQs
Ques. Is there any difference between sound engineers and audio engineers?
Ans. Yes, both the terms sound the same and are frequently used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Term 'audio engineer' refers to recording or studio work, and 'sound engineer' refers to live performances and events.
Ques. Is it possible to be a part-time sound engineer?
Ans. Yes, it is possible to become a part-time sound engineer in India. There are various certification programs or short-term courses from recognized institutes in India. These can develop your skills as a sound engineer and offer placement assistance too.
Ques. Studying sound engineering through ZIMA can bag good placements?
Ans. No, a degree from any university will not guarantee you a decent job. It is entirely reliant on your degree-related abilities and expertise. A sound engineer is a highly demanded job in the industry. So, one needs to specialize in an area apart from understanding the recruiting procedure and prerequisites.
Ques. Is there scope in Bollywood as a sound engineer?
Ans. The scope of the sound engineer in Bollywood is Humongous. The industry is growing daily, and it needs sound/ audio technicians to smooth down rough edges in flat voices and add pauses and punch to songs and other technical sound activities. Some famous top audio engineers are Resul Pookutty, Nakul Kamte, Leslie Fernades, Sanjay Maurya, Justin Jose, and more.
Ques. Is sound engineering worth pursuing in India?
Ans. Yes. The world of sound and music is rapidly expanding, with digital platforms entering the picture and providing musicians with a plethora of new opportunities to present their work. Also, because of Mumbai's movie industry, sound engineers are in great demand in India. They add to that the presence of regional cinema, the developing music business, the short film revolution, and truckloads of commercial AV projects created daily - audio, music, and sound engineering linked to all of these things.
Ques. The average salary of a sound engineer per month in India.
Ans. Currently, the average salary of a sound engineer in India is INR 30,000 per month.
Ques. Which are the highest paying cities in India for Sound Engineers?
Ans. Qualified sound engineers can seek lucrative employment opportunities in cities: Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
Ques. Who is the best live sound engineer?
Ans. Billy Rhodes Porter, an American sound engineer, was renowned as the world's best sound engineer. However, in India, K.J. Singh is one of the best.
Ques. Is sound engineering difficult?
Ans. Sound engineering is a highly developed and sophisticated field of work, and nearly strenuous to master the intricacies of the profession without proper training, regardless of what internet publications or advertisements suggest. So, it can be considered an overwhelming field.
Ques. Do sound engineers make a lot of money?
Ans. Yes, experienced sound engineers can make a heap of money. The pay scale depends upon the skills and knowledge of the person.
Ques. What is the average cost of becoming a sound engineer in India?
Ans. The fee for diplomas or certifications in India for sound engineering can range between INR 2.,50,000 to INR 5,00,000. However, for a degree program, the average cost is between INR 5,00,000 to INR 12,00,000.
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