Also called: Vinyl Mastering Engineer
Cuts the master discs used to press vinyl records.
A cutting engineer watches through a microscope as a heated stylus carves grooves into a lacquer disc, the master used to make thousands of vinyl records.
Approximate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. A couple of years of audio engineering experience, then an apprenticeship of about two years at a vinyl mastering and cutting studio.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Apprenticeship. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Audio Engineering.
Growing faster than average. Vinyl revival.
Low risk for 10 years. Vinyl's revival keeps demand steady; cutting lacquers on old machines is rare hands-on skill AI doesn't do.
Classes: Physics (sound), Music, Electronics, Shop class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-4014.
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.