A sound designer earns an average salary of $65,000. They work closely with directors to set the mood and scene through sound, considering factors like historical context and geographical location. Sound designers both design sound and operate equipment to record, manipulate, and play sounds that create distinction between diegetic and non-diegetic elements. Effective sound design is critical to the overall quality of a production.

1. GC1: Job Roles in the Production Arts Industry
SOUND DESIGNER
The average salary for a sound designer is the equivalent to $65,000.
A sound designer will consider and analyse a script, working closely with a director or
choreographer to set a scene, evoke an emotion, or to juxtapose or underscore the action.
A sound designer is also an auditory creator, and may compose sounds or music to fit the
exact mood or place.
Not only do they design sound, but they also install and operate the sound which includes
using the best equipment to use and adjusting it’s settings to create a mood.
A sound designer will record sounds, whilst being very specific about what type of sounds,
or HOW they sound.
They will then manipulate their sounds/music in order for them to become even more
suited to the scene.
They also have to create a clear distinction between diegetic and non diegetic sound.
They need to know what kind of microphones/speakers are needed and where they should
go to achieve the best sound.
A sound designer should also research historical and geographical context of the play in
order to record or compose sound that would’ve been heard.
They should also use musical qualities such as prolonged notes or minor chords to create
things such as tension and emotions.
Needs to be able to identify key sounds of the time and decided and analyse them to see
which evokes the right emotions and interpretation of the scene.

2. If a sound designer doesn’t complete their job effectively, it will affect the overall quality of
the show. If a specific sound doesn’t fit with the show, i.e from the wrong time period, or
doesn’t evoke a mood or emotion, the audience will not be “spoon fed” by the sound and
will question the decision.
A sound designers day to day job on a production would be researching the show and
learning the script, along with experimenting and adapting certain sounds into soundscapes
and composing their own sound for the show.