← All careers

How to become a sound technician in Australia

Sound Technicians operate audio equipment to record, enhance, mix and amplify sound in support of television, radio, film or video productions, or stage performances.

$1,844median full-time pay a week, before tax
+8.3%projected job growth to 2035
3,200people in this job

Pay and growth are for the wider performing arts technicians group, which is as fine as the data goes. The all-jobs median is $1,852 a week. Jobs in the performing arts technicians group are projected to grow 8.3% between May 2025 and May 2035, slower than the 13.3% projected for all jobs. Projections are indicative, not forecasts, and JSA says they don't yet reflect generative AI.

What the job involves

  • Sets up and adjusts equipment such as microphones, and operates sound mixing consoles and associated equipment to regulate volume and sound quality.
  • Selects and sets up television recording, editing and mixing equipment, and adjusts and monitors their operation.

How to get there

What it usually takes. A Certificate III or IV, including at least two years of on-the-job training where it is a Certificate III. This is the skill level Jobs and Skills Australia gives the performing arts technicians group, and some roles differ.

What people in the job have. Highest qualification held: 35% a degree or higher, 23% a diploma, 13% a Certificate III or IV.

Apprenticeship or traineeship. Audio Engineer is on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List (1 April 2026), with qualifications including Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services, Certificate III in Music, Certificate III in Screen and Media. Find a provider at Your Career or your state's TAFE.

Many jobs also need registration, a licence or a specific accredited course. Check the professional body or regulator before you choose.

Courses that can lead here

Victoria11 matches

VTAC lowest selection ranks, December 2025 offer round.

Health Sciences (Bachelor) and Clinical Audiology (Master) (Course Package) · La Trobe, Melbourne72.30
Biomedicine (Bachelor) and Clinical Audiology (Master) (Course Package) · La Trobe, MelbourneNo cutoff
Psychological Science (Bachelor) and Clinical Audiology (Master) (Course Package) · La Trobe, MelbourneNo cutoff

Diplomas and other ways in

Music Industry (Major in Audio Production) · Box Hill Institute, Box Hill - NelsonNo cutoff
Audio Production & Entertainment Management (Double Degree) · Collarts, Wellington StreetNo cutoff
Audio Production (Diploma/Degree) · Collarts, Wellington StreetNo cutoff
Audio & Entertainment Business Management Double Degree · JMC Academy, MelbourneNo cutoff

Showing 7 of 11 matches. Search every course.

NSW and ACT10 matches

UAC lowest selection ranks, December Round 2, 2025-26 admissions.

B Creative Production in Music and Sound Design B Creative Intelligence and Innovation · UTS79.45 Bachelor of Creative Production in Music and Sound Design · UTS74.30
Bachelor of Clinical Science leading to Master of Clinical Audiology · MacquarieNo cutoff

Diplomas and other ways in

Bachelor of Music - Creative Technology (Audio) · Australian Institute of MusicNo cutoff
Bachelor of Creative Technology (Audio Engineering and Sound Production) · JMC AcademyNo cutoff
Diploma of Audio Engineering and Sound Production · JMC AcademyNo cutoff
Bach of Creative Tech(Audio Eng & Sound Prod) & Bach of Ent Bus Mgmt · JMC AcademyNo cutoff

Showing 7 of 10 matches. Search every course.

Queensland9 matches

QTAC course pages, ATAR/Selection Rank profile for semester 1, 2026.

Diplomas and other ways in

Bachelor of Creative Technology (Audio Engineering and Sound Production) · JMC Academy, BrisbaneNo cutoff
Bachelor of Creative Technology (Audio Engineering and Sound Production) & Bachelor of Entertainment Business Management · JMC Academy, BrisbaneNo cutoff
Diploma of Audio Engineering and Sound Production · JMC Academy, BrisbaneNo cutoff
Associate Degree of Audio · SAE University College, BrisbaneNo cutoff

Showing 4 of 9 matches. Search every course.

Western Australia1 match

TISC Course Search: lowest ATAR offered for 2026 entry and guaranteed offer ATARs.

Bachelor of Creative Media in Sound Design · Murdoch, Perth70.00 guaranteed

Matched on course names, 31 across four admissions centres. A lowest selection rank includes adjustment points and moves every year. Check prerequisites and whether the course is accredited for this job.

Does it fit your interests?

Strongest interest areas for this kind of work: Realistic, Artistic, Conventional.

Realistic
Investigative
Artistic
Social
Enterprising
Conventional

From O*NET ratings for "Sound Engineering Technicians", the closest US occupation in JSA's correspondence (a good match). US ratings are a guide to Australian jobs, not a measurement of them.

Careers with similar interests

Photographer$1,840 Jeweller Architect$2,308 Wall and floor tiler Painter$1,379

Done this job, or studied for it?

Tell Year 12s the one thing you wish you'd known. First name only, and we read every story before it goes up.

Share your story

Job data: © Commonwealth of Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, February 2026 and Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035 (Victoria University), CC BY 4.0. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.2 to O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy correspondence.

Apprenticeships: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Apprenticeships Priority List, 1 April 2026.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Curve ATAR has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

How these pages are built