OSCA 391231

Audio Engineer

Overview

  • Employed persons

    3,200

  • Employment status

    54.1% Full time

    45.9% Part time

  • Median age

    37 years

  • Employment by sex

    10.3% Female

    89.8% Male

    Highly male dominated

  • Indigenous employment share

    1.1%

  • Main employing industry

    Information Media and Telecommunications

Indicator Audio Engineer Total employment
Employed persons 3,200 12,049,400
Median age 37 years 40 years
Full-time share 54.1% 64.2%
Part-time share 45.9% 35.8%
Female employment share 10.3% 48.5%
Male employment share 89.8% 51.5%
Gender segregation intensity scale Highly male dominated Gender balanced
Indigenous employment share 1.1% 2.2%
Main employing industry Information Media and Telecommunications Health Care and Social Assistance
Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

Occupation overview

Audio Engineers operate audio equipment to record, enhance, mix and amplify sound in support of music, live performance, television, radio, film or video productions.

What the occupation involves

  • Sets up, tests and operates audio equipment for recordings or live productions
  • Adjusts audio levels and quality to ensure optimal sound
  • Mixes and balances audio tracks to create desired effects
  • Edits and enhances audio recordings using software and equipment
  • Maintains, repairs and troubleshoots audio equipment to ensure proper functioning
  • Collaborates with directors, producers and performers to achieve desired sound outcomes

Common occupation titles

  • Sound Engineer
  • Sound Technician

Specialisations

  • Sound Editor
  • Sound Recordist

Note: Specialisations are examples of roles in within this occupation and are not separate OSCA occupations.

Skill level (education and experience level)

Skill level 3
equivalent to a mid-level Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification (Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least 2 years’ on-the-job training).

Note: While skill levels are described using formal education levels, some people use a combination of informal learning, on-the-job training and personal experience to achieve an equivalent level.

Licensing or registration requirements

No licensing or registration requirements are listed for this occupation.

OSCA structure

Employment

On this page

    Industries

    Top 10 most common industries, 2021

    Audio Engineer Total employment
    Industry Share of occupation Industry Share of occupation
    Information Media and Telecommunications 36.1% Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Arts and Recreation Services 20.3% Retail Trade 9.1%
    Administrative and Support Services 7.6% Construction 8.9%
    Education and Training 5.6% Education and Training 8.8%
    Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services 5.5% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 7.8%
    Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 5.4% Public Administration and Safety 6.6%
    Construction 1.9% Accommodation and Food Services 6.5%
    Other Services 1.9% Manufacturing 5.9%
    Public Administration and Safety 1.6% Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.5%
    Accommodation and Food Services 1.5% Financial and Insurance Services 3.7%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    States and territories

    Employment distribution by states and territories, 2021

    • New South Wales

      35.0%

    • Victoria

      28.9%

    • Queensland

      15.3%

    • South Australia

      6.6%

    • Tasmania

      1.5%

    • Northern Territory

      0.6%

    • Australian Capital Territory

      2.6%

    Audio Engineer Total employment
    State / Territory Employment Share of occupation Employment Share of occupation
    New South Wales 1,100 35.0% 3,684,200 30.6%
    Victoria 940 28.9% 3,162,900 26.2%
    Queensland 500 15.3% 2,444,100 20.3%
    South Australia 220 6.6% 839,400 7.0%
    Western Australia 320 9.7% 1,306,200 10.8%
    Tasmania 50 1.5% 254,700 2.1%
    Northern Territory 20 0.6% 107,000 0.9%
    Australian Capital Territory 80 2.6% 248,600 2.1%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    Age and sex

    Employment distibution by age group and sex, 2021

    Audio Engineer

    Total employment

    Age group Audio Engineer Total employment
    15–24 years 13.1% 14.3%
    25–34 years 30.6% 22.7%
    35–44 years 24.4% 22.3%
    45–54 years 16.6% 20.4%
    55–64 years 11.8% 15.3%
    65–74 years 3.4% 4.3%
    75 years and over <0.1% 0.6%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.
    Sex Audio Engineer Total employment
    Female 10.3% 48.5%
    Male 89.8% 51.5%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    On this page

      OSCA occupation profiles data

      This file contains data available from the OSCA Occupation Profile page.

      Use of this data must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      OSCA Occupation data - 2021 Census.xlsx

      xlsx 1236447

      Download

      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA)

      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) is the skill-based classification used to categorise occupations across the Australian labour market. OSCA is used to define occupations across all official occupational statistics. OSCA replaces the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

      Each job is classified to one, and only one, group of jobs at each level of the classification with no overlaps. This prevents the accidental double-counting of roles within the Australian labour market. For more information about OSCA, visit the What is OSCA information page, or the ABS website.

      Find out more

      What is OSCA   OSCA content updates