Audio Engineering gov't wages data

[Tibbon]

I was looking around today, and found some interesting information out there (2005) from the gov't concerning wages nationwide in the US, and the number of people making the engineering their primary job.

Sound Engineering Technicians

Seems that there's around 12,680 of us in 2005.

[Berolzheimer]

That's interesting. Thanks for posting it.

[blackfish]

did you find a gig yet?

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by blackfish

did you find a gig yet?

Working on that more today. I found these charts in trying to find the average wages overall, and cost of living for some of the areas I'm looking.

Of course this data isn't always perfect, but it's great for comparison.

[Improv]

Wow.... that link really made me feel so.... average. But I count my blessings for such fortune in this industry.

Good luck with your search, Tibbon...

[drBill]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

Sound Engineering Technicians

Makes one wonder why anyone would actually choose to enter this industry as an occupation vs. avocation. Those numbers suck in comparison to almost every industry I can think of. UPS drivers make more than we do.

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by drBill

Makes one wonder why anyone would actually choose to enter this industry as an occupation vs. avocation. Those numbers suck in comparison to almost every industry I can think of. UPS drivers make more than we do.

We seem to be going better than (in most places):

Child care providers
Prep cooks
Dancers
Actors (although obviously this one is massively skewed).


I guess it something everyone (who is thinking of going into this) should ask themselves. To some i guess it seems to be an easy or glamous job (which it rarely is), and I guess to many it seems fun. It certainly doesn't make many people rich. If there was money in this, then "big companies" or private equity would be throwing money at studios.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

We seem to be going better than (in most places):

Child care providers
Prep cooks
Dancers
Actors (although obviously this one is massively skewed).

OK, so after getting a bachelors degree, having 20+ years experience, spending more on studio equipment than a house would cost in the LA subburbs, a grammy and a #@$%-load of pro credits, I should be doing better than Child Care providers, cooks or dancers - right???

I'm going to call my accountant and see if I'm above that goal....or below it. Could go either way, depending.

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by drBill

OK, so after getting a bachelors degree, having 20+ years experience, spending more on studio equipment than a house would cost in the LA subburbs, a grammy and a #@$%-load of pro credits, I should be doing better than Child Care providers, cooks or dancers - right???

I'm going to call my accountant and see if I'm above that goal....or below it. Could go either way, depending.

Pretty much. Somehow a long the line I think somehow our jobs were portrayed as "cool" and we got flooded. Blame MTV, blame VH-1, blame the mBox. Whatever. Somehow the qualifications you had mentioned are pretty much seemingly the baseline now for having any sense of job security in this industry.

It's not good when you can't get a job with 3-5 years of pretty solid experience and a BS.... and that's not even mentioning pay. That's just having ANY consideration for a job, anywhere.

It does suck, but if you're good then it can still be good. I'm not bummed about it.

[Improv]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

Somehow a long the line I think somehow our jobs were portrayed as "cool" and we got flooded.

Um, make no mistake... this job was always cool

There just seems to be a lot more interest in "the making of" and "behind the scenes" type of things these day... production as the end and not the means. Blame reality TV?

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by Improv

Um, make no mistake... this job was always cool

There just seems to be a lot more interest in "the making of" and "behind the scenes" type of things these day... production as the end and not the means. Blame reality TV?

Reading books about working at EMI/Abbey Road... wearing the white coats and sitting around in small rooms engaging tape machines didn't sound too fun But hey, you got to work with THE BEATLES if you were lucky. So maybe yea, it's always been cool.

But yea, I was flipping by MTV the other day (remembering why I don't watch TV normally), and saw some girl going to a recording studio to "produce a song" or something for her birthday. Behind the scenes... grr.

It's supposed to be a cool job, that other people don't know is cool

[drBill]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

It's supposed to be a cool job, that other people don't know is cool

It's only cool when you know you can pay the bills and have some work the next month. If that's not happening long term, I don't care what you're doing, it's not going to be cool for long. Now, doing it as an AVOCATION is a completely different ballgame. I wish I'd gone into real estate and done music on the side. Government statistics and my seat of the pants voodoo ESP are telling me that rougher waters are ahead. Hasta la Vista, pro full-time engineering careers......

(At least if you define "career" as something that will net you solid middle class status in a really expensive envrionment like NYC or LA)

[blackfish]

do i dare mention the evil phrase.....
???

corporate audio. boring but keeps ya floating.

or


move to vegas.....lotsa work in vegas

[CorkyTart]

And out of that $47,790 a large majority of that gets blown on gear by most engineers. I personally think that is dumb (blowing all your cash on gear)

[StrykeBack]

damn those statistics look kinda depressing. So much for a small dream of making 80 to 100 grand a year and doing what I love

I've been looking into areas that have a strong music scene and also big computer and videogame companies. with HD gaming consoles comes the 5.1 and greater need for better sound. Maybe I can do that as my day job and track bands in my off hours...


That or I'l just continue climbing the ranks at a Costco where I've been paying off my student loan for my recording school and then have a nice house with a studio in it for my days off. Shit, as far as those statistics I'm already making way more then the average audio engineer and I've only been here 3 years.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by StrykeBack

Shit, as far as those statistics I'm already making way more then the average audio engineer and I've only been here 3 years.

So do you want to own a house, be able to support a family and buy a new car every few years.....or work your dream? Your choice, but choose wisely grasshopper.

[Improv]

Isn't this why audio engineers marry?

[JGILL]

Some scary stats........After years of this doing this job still on ropes if it's what some might call worth it. But it's the only job that keeps me wanting to go to work, so for that I'll keep at it. Every market has it's up and downs, this is just a long down. It will just change and people will have to adapt. If you want to be an audio engineer you just have to do what it takes if that means studio work, corp live sound, churchs, temples, street fares, etc. Just keep hustling. And in that usually that leads to more work.
If that doesn't work became a loan officer and try to close loans a couple times a month, while recording local bands in hopes that one will make it big.

Just my 2 cents.

[JGILL]

Some scary stats........After years of this doing this job still on ropes if it's what some might call worth it. But it's the only job that keeps me wanting to go to work, so for that I'll keep at it. Every market has it's up and downs, this is just a long down. It will just change and people will have to adapt. If you want to be an audio engineer you just have to do what it takes if that means studio work, corp live sound, churchs, temples, street fares, etc. Just keep hustling. And in that usually that leads to more work.
If that doesn't work became a loan officer and try to close loans a couple times a month, while recording local bands in hopes that one will make it big.

Just my 2 cents.

[StrykeBack]

Isn't this why audio engineers marry?

Good idea. Now to hope the girlfriend makes loads of money.

[Improv]

Me and my wife have managed to be within $2000 of each other on our W2's each year for the past 6 years or so. She's always the higher one, but she can't really call herself a sugarmomma or anything like that She's overqualified for her job though, and is considering other work that pays better, so I better step up my game!