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Careers›Roles›Sound Cutter
Mid-Level

Sound Cutter

Every footstep, door creak, and line of dialogue in a film was placed by someone, and you're the one cutting and assembling that soundscape. Building a film's world out of sound.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
R
A
C
I
E
S
Realistichands-on, practical
Artisticcreative, expressive
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Sound Cutters
Hospitality & Food ServiceConstructionTechnology & Information · 58%Entertainment & Media · 19%Professional Services · 6%Education · 6%
Job markets for Sound Cutters
Employment concentration · ~43 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Arts & Media
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Sound Cutter

The work runs through editing and syncing dialogue, sound effects, and ambience to picture, cleaning audio, and assembling the layers a mix is built on. It's meticulous, frame-by-frame work, and good sound is invisible when done right, so the craft hides in the details.

What's harder than people expect is the patience and the deadlines: long hours at a workstation, exacting detail, and post-production crunch. Much of the work is freelance, the hours spike near delivery, and the best work goes unnoticed by audiences. Settings span film, TV, and post houses.

It tends to fit someone detail-obsessed, patient, and creatively technical. If you want recognition or steady hours, the invisible, freelance nature can wear. But if you love shaping how a film feels through sound, and the craft of cutting it just right, the work tends to be quietly rewarding, cut after cut.

What people in this role value
IndependenceHigh
RelationshipsAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
RecognitionModerate
SupportLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$121K+90%
Energy & Utilities$114K+80%
Professional Services$113K+77%
Financial Services$98K+54%
Wholesale & Distribution$89K+40%
Compared to Arts & Media average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Sound Cutters (SOC 27-4014.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Arts & Media →
Sound CutterProducerAudio OperatorMusic ProducerRecordistDisc RecordistFilm RecordistSound EngineerSound RecordistDub Room EngineerRerecording MixerAcoustical EngineerFilm Sound EngineerAudio Video EngineerFilm Sound CoordinatorSound Technician (Sound Tech)Mixing Technician (Mixing Tech)Public Address Technician (PA Tech)Mechanic Sound Technician (Mechanic Sound Tech)Sound Recording Technician (Sound Recording Tech)Public Address System Mechanic (PA System Mechanic)Sound Engineering Technician (Sound Engineering Tech)
Exploring the Sound Cutter career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$37K–$135K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
13K
U.S. Employment
-1.7%
10yr Growth
1K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$68K$65K$62K$59K$57K201920202021202220232024$57K$68K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingReading ComprehensionOperation and ControlOperations MonitoringSystems AnalysisWriting
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
27-4014.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midProducer$75KmidAudio Operator$60KmidMusic Producer$65KmidRecordist$66KmidDisc Recordist$66KmidFilm Recordist$66K
View all Arts & Media roles →

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.