Also called: Acoustics Engineer, Noise Control Engineer
Uses the science of sound to make things quieter, clearer or sound better.
A new air-conditioning unit is too loud for a library. You measure its noise with a sound meter, find the fan whine, and design a muffler and vibration mounts. A week later you measure again and it's 10 decibels quieter.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in mechanical, electrical or acoustical engineering or physics; master's common.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Acoustical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics.
Growing about average. Not tracked separately by BLS; a small, steady specialty.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI simulation speeds noise predictions and reports; measuring real sound and designing fixes stay human.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Music, Computer science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2199.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.