JobFrame · GAMEAU.GAMEAUDIF879.P6
Game Audio/Sound Effects
P6 · P6 — Principal Professional · Individual contributor
Median pay · United States
$188,314
$147,937 – $239,712 · USD · annual · national base (function pricing in review)
Level position
P6 · 6 of 6 in track
Median pay
$188,314
$147,937–$239,712
Level
P6
P6 · 6 of 6 in track
Super-function
creative_development
Demand-heat
cool
-1.7% growth
Summary
Creation, implementation and runtime control of in-game audio — sound effects, music, ambience and dialogue — using DAWs (Pro Tools, Reaper, Adobe Audition) and middleware (Wwise, FMOD) integrated into game engines (Unity, Unreal, Metasounds). Distinct from composition-only roles (music writing) and from audio programming (engine/DSP code); this focus spans asset creation through implementation, recording, mixing, technical sound design and ultimately audio direction and department leadership. P5 is the project-level creative lead (Lead Sound Designer / Audio Lead) holding creative authority over a game's audio; P6 is the Audio Director carrying cross-project audio vision plus budget, hiring and people-management accountability.
This level — P6 P6 — Principal Professional
Top individual contributor; recognized authority with strategic impact, equivalent to a low executive level