AI Sound Design Specialist Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$105,000
national median salary
$78,000 to $142,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $73,130 for Sound Engineering Technicians (SOC 27-4014) across the United States, based on 13,080 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$37,570
25th percentile
$49,910
Median
$73,130
75th percentile
$100,280
90th percentile
$137,370
Workers surveyed
13,080
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$66,430
May 2025 release
$73,130
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $105,000 is 44% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Sound Engineering Technicians covers a different population than the AI Sound Design Specialist title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Sound Engineering Technicians (SOC 27-4014) rather than AI Sound Design Specialistspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 27-4014Highest Paying
$148,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$110,000
Providence, RI
Lowest Paying
$80,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 27-4014. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average AI Sound Design Specialist salary in the United States at $105,000 in 2026, within a range of $78,000 to $142,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $148,000, while Providence offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Compensation depends on industry sector and project scope.
AI Sound Design Specialist salary by city.
Skills that increase AI Sound Design Specialist pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for AI Sound Design Specialists based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $14,700 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$14,700 per year
≈ +$13,650 per year
≈ +$12,600 per year
≈ +$11,550 per year
≈ +$10,500 per year
≈ +$10,500 per year
≈ +$10,500 per year
≈ +$9,450 per year
What you should know.
Compensation depends on industry sector and project scope. Game studios, film production companies, and music technology firms pay the most. Specialists with expertise in neural audio synthesis, spatial audio AI, and adaptive soundscape generation command the highest salaries in this niche field.
Junior AI audio engineers start around $62,000. Senior AI sound design specialists earn $95,000 to $120,000. Audio directors leveraging AI at major studios or heads of music AI at tech companies reach $160,000 to $210,000.
Game and entertainment studios may offer royalty participation and project completion bonuses. Music tech startups provide equity stakes. Some roles include professional audio equipment budgets and studio access benefits.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote AI Sound Design Specialists typically earn $98,000 (7% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about AI Sound Design Specialist pay.
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