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Sound Editor

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April 13, 2024 Updated May 26, 2025 18 minute read

Sound Editor: A Comprehensive Career Guide

Sound editing is the art and science of selecting and assembling sound recordings in preparation for the final sound mix or master. It's a crucial process in the production of film, television, video games, podcasts, and any other medium that relies on audio to tell a story or convey information. A sound editor manipulates recorded or synthesized sounds, ensuring they are polished, coherent, and effectively support the accompanying visuals or narrative.

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Salaries for Sound Editor

City

25th Percentile

50th Percentile

75th Percentile

Median

New York

$116,000

$138,000

$176,000

$138,000

San Francisco

$93,000

$109,000

$125,000

$109,000

Seattle

$87,000

$112,000

$138,000

$112,000

See all salaries

City

25th Percentile

50th Percentile

75th Percentile

Median

New York

$116,000

$138,000

$176,000

$138,000

San Francisco

$93,000

$109,000

$125,000

$109,000

Seattle

$87,000

$112,000

$138,000

$112,000

Austin

$72,000

$88,000

$125,000

$88,000

Toronto

$60,000

$75,000

$90,000

$75,000

London

£48,000

£63,000

£82,000

£63,000

Paris

€27,000

€31,500

€37,000

€31,500

Berlin

€36,000

€48,000

€70,000

€48,000

Tel Aviv

₪121,000

₪168,000

₪227,000

₪168,000

Singapore

S$85,000

S$109,000

S$144,000

S$109,000

Beijing

¥60,000

¥70,000

¥80,000

¥70,000

Shanghai

¥168,000

¥224,000

¥294,000

¥224,000

Shenzhen

¥111,000

¥137,000

¥171,000

¥137,000

Bengalaru

₹233,000

₹590,000

₹775,000

₹590,000

Delhi

₹222,000

₹294,000

₹422,000

₹294,000

Bars indicate relevance. All salaries presented are estimates. Completion of this course does not guarantee or imply job placement or career outcomes.

Path to Sound Editor

Take the first step.

We've curated 21 courses to help you on your path to Sound Editor. Use these to develop your skills, build background knowledge, and put what you learn to practice.

Sorted from most relevant to least relevant:

The Art of Sound Design

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Pro Tools Basics

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Game Audio 201: Advanced Sound Design & Recording Techniques

Game Audio 201: Advanced Sound Design & Recording...

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The Art of Film Sound Design with Cubase

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Creating Sounds for Electronic Music

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Logic Pro X: EDM Electronic Music Production in Logic Pro X

Logic Pro X: EDM Electronic Music Production in Logic Pro...

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Ultimate Sound Design Recipe Book Vol 4: FX and Oddities

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Music Production & Engineering Magic : 5 Courses Into 1

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Reaper Scripts for Beginners

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101 Creative Techniques In Ableton Live

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How to Create Your Documentary Film Then Sell it to Netflix

How to Create Your Documentary Film Then Sell it to...

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Game Audio Essentials: Music Production for Video Games

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Drum Programming Masterclass: COMPLETE (Parts 1, 2, and 3)

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Voice-Over Pro: How to Perform & Record Standout Voice-Overs

Voice-Over Pro: How to Perform & Record Standout Voice...

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Ultimate Ableton Live 9 Complete: Parts 4, 5, & 6

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Sound Design with Sylenth

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FL Studio Basics

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Soundtrack Composer Masterclass: Score Films and Video Games

Soundtrack Composer Masterclass: Score Films and Video...

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The Complete Da Vinci Resolve Course: Beginner to Filmmaker

The Complete Da Vinci Resolve Course: Beginner to...

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Massive X Synthesizer - Native Instruments Massive X Guide!

Massive X Synthesizer - Native Instruments Massive X...

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Video Game Music Composition Masterclass: Complete A-Z Guide

Video Game Music Composition Masterclass: Complete A-Z...

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Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.

The Conversations

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By renowned film editor Walter Murch focuses on the art and technique of film editing. Murch has edited some of the most iconic films of all time, including Apocalypse Now and The English Patient. His book must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about the craft of editing.

(Español) El arte del montaje: Conversaciones con Walter Murch

Paperback

ITunes Music: Mastering High Resolution Audio...

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Focuses on using Pro Tools for music production. It covers everything from recording and editing to mixing and mastering.

iTunes Music: Mastering High Resolution Audio...

Paperback

[(iTunes Music: Mastering High Resolution Audio...

Paperback

$$$

iTunes Music: Mastering High Resolution Audio...

Kindle Edition

$$$$

Mixing Secrets

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Focuses on the art and science of audio mixing for film and video. Senior has decades of experience as a mixing engineer, and his book is full of practical tips and advice for getting the most out of your mixes.

Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio (Sound On Sound...

Paperback

$$$

(Deutsch) Mixing Secrets: Musik mischen im Homestudio (mitp...

Kindle Edition

Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio by Mike Senior...

Unknown Binding

$$$

The Sound Effects Bible

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Comprehensive guide to sound effects for film and video. It covers everything from the basics of sound design to advanced techniques for creating realistic and immersive soundscapes. The author is an experienced sound designer, and his book is full of practical tips and advice.

The Sound Effects Bible: How to Create and Record...

Paperback

The Sound Effects Bible: How to Create and Record...

Kindle Edition