This list of occupations is intended to provide a sense of the breadth of available jobs in audio and audio-related fields. It is not inclusive, nor are these positions mutually exclusive. Depending on the type of production and the assignment, one or more of these functions may be incorporated. The job descriptions are generalized and differ from studio to studio.

Job responsibilities in given markets also vary. A person in a smaller audio production house may have more than one duty to perform. In a large market, union regulations may dictate that members perform a designated job and may not perform other tasks also credentialed to that union or to other unions.

In the audio marketplace, a college education; a background in production, music, engineering, computers, or some combination of the four; and “ears” are distinct advantages. Of considerable importance too is the ability to get along with people.

assistant, setup, or second engineer—In music recording, sets up the studio and the control room before a session, checks and readies the equipment, and assists the engineer during production.

audio books producer/recordist—Oversees production and recording of book narration.

audio designer/producer for Web services—Designs and/or produces the audio for Web sites.

audio educator—Teaches audio courses in a community college, university, or trade school. In colleges and universities, audio courses are located in various departments, such as broadcasting, television and radio, and film, as well as in the schools of music, engineering, and communications.

audio engineer—Depending on the medium—radio, television, film, or music recording—maintains the audio equipment, operates the console and other control room gear, and performs the recording, editing, and mixing functions.

audio for video postproduction editor—Edits audio material for video in television post-production. May also do the mixing.

audio for video postproduction mixer—Mixes audio material for video in television postproduction. May also do the editing.

audio lead—In game sound, responsible for seeing that daily deadlines are met.

audio production engineer—In radio and television, equipment operator and producer of audio material.

audio software designer/producer—Creates, designs, and produces audio software for computers, games, and Internet production.

automated dialogue replacement (ADR) editor—Edits the ADR recording.

automated dialogue replacement (ADR) producer—In charge of the ADR recording session and postproduction editing.

automated dialogue replacement (ADR) recordist—Records ADR sessions.

board operator—Operates the console and the other control room equipment during a broadcast and a production session.

boom operator—Operates the boom microphone during a broadcast and a production recording.

cable puller—Sets up and handles power and microphone cables.

concert sound reinforcement engineer—Sets up, tests, and operates the sound equipment for live concerts.

dialogue editor—Edits production dialogue and postproduction ADR recordings.

director of audio—In game sound, responsible for overseeing projects, coordinating the creative and operational staffs, and dealing with contributing outside personnel.

duplication technician—Duplicates client audio recordings, determines if material is suitable for duplication, handles packaging, and checks and readies the recording and playback equipment.

entry-level trainee—Does whatever is asked in the execution of studio and control room activities and in helping during a production session; performs routine housekeeping duties; takes every opportunity to observe and learn.

Foley artist—Creates and performs sound effects in a Foley studio.

Foley editor—Edits Foley-produced sound effects. May also record and mix Foley effects.

Foley mixer—Mixes Foley-produced sound effects. May also record and edit Foley effects.

Foley recordist—Records the sound effects during Foley production. May also mix and edit Foley effects.

librarian—Receives, catalogs, files, and mails a studio’s audio material; obtains appropriate authorization for recordings' release.

machine room operator—In film, loads and operates the magnetic film recorder/playback machines. In television, handles the loading and the operation of the recorders.

maintenance engineer—Maintains the audio equipment to keep it up to working specifications, including the alignment and the calibration of recorders, digital signal processing (DSP) calibration, real-time analysis of the monitor system, finding sources of noise, and performing emergency repairs.

maintenance technician—Diagnoses problems and repairs audio and other electronic equipment.

mastering engineer—Processes and records master discs from the production master recordings.

museum sound designer/producer—Designs and/or produces sound for museum exhibits.

music editor—Edits the recording of the music score.

music premixer—Mixes the music score to prepare it for the rerecording mix.

music producer—Has creative charge of the music production; may be affiliated with a record company, a film studio, or the performing artist.

playback operator—Plays any needed prerecorded music or dialogue on the set.

production recordist/mixer—Records and, if necessary, mixes dialogue on the set.

programmer—Writes the software that makes the audio in interactive media, such as games, function.

radio production engineer/producer—Operates the equipment and produces audio material, such as spot announcements, promos, jingles, and station IDs.

remote broadcast engineer—Maintains the audio equipment on-location; may also handle the recording.

remote broadcast mixer—Records the audio on-location.

rerecording mixer—Mixes the composite dialogue, sound-effect, and music tracks to stereo or surround sound; may be handled by one, two, or three mixers.

scoring mixer—Mixes the film or video music sound track.

sound assistant—Assists the principal audio production personnel in whatever ways they need, including packing and carrying equipment, setting up the studio and the control room, doing light maintenance, organizing the paperwork, and getting coffee.

sound designer—Creates, directs, and is usually involved in the production of the overall sonic character of a work, such as a film, video, television program, spot announcement, game, CD-ROM, Web page, theatrical play, or musical.

sound-effect editor—Edits the sound effects; may collect, record, and produce them as well.

sound-effect specialist—In game sound, responsible for producing user-triggered sound effects.

sound transfer engineer—Transfers audio from one recording medium to another.

speech specialist—In game sound, works with the scriptwriter to design and produce voice characterizations.

television postproduction editor/mixer—Edits and mixes the production audio plus the music and any additional sound effects in postproduction.

theater sound designer for plays and musicals—Records, edits, and mixes the audio for plays and musicals; handles the audio at the theater’s mixing console during performances.

writer—Writes books and/or articles about audio equipment, technology, production techniques, trends, and news in the various media of the audio world.

In addition to the listed occupations in production-related audio, there are other areas of opportunity for employment in audio-related fields: