Sound Recording Studios — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the sound recording studios industry earns $72,043 per year ($34.64/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Sound Recording Studios Workers Earn?
At $72,043/year (equivalent to $34.64/hour for a full-time worker), sound recording studios wages are near the national average of ~$65,000.
The typical sound recording studios business employs 3 people. Most operations are small — often owner-operated with a handful of staff. Labor costs are manageable relative to revenue.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average sound recording studios business generating $526K/year with 3 employees at $72,043 each, total payroll represents roughly 41.1% of revenue. Labor is a significant cost but leaves room for other expenses and profit.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a sound recording studiosbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $93,656/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 3 employees = ~$216,129/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $34.64/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $526K/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Sound Recording Studios revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do sound recording studios employees make?
- The average sound recording studios employee earns $72,043 per year, which is equivalent to $34.64/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the sound recording studios industry?
- The sound recording studios industry employs 4,984 workers across 1,943 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 3 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).