JobFrame · GAMEAU.GAMEAUDIF879.P5
Game Audio/Sound Effects
P5 · P5 — Expert Professional · Individual contributor
Median pay · United States
$138,423
$108,743 – $176,203 · USD · annual · national base (function pricing in review)
Level position
P5 · 5 of 6 in track
Median pay
$138,423
$108,743–$176,203
Level
P5
P5 · 5 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 — P5 P5 — Expert Professional
Expert in field; key problem solver and project leader, authority in multiple areas