Salary by experience
View as table
| Experience | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 0-2 yrs | CHF 37'146 |
| 3-5 yrs | CHF 62'400 |
| 6-8 yrs | CHF 41'000 |
| 9-11 yrs | CHF 69'552 |
| 12-21 yrs | CHF 62'432 |
| 21+ yrs | CHF 126'000 |
Top HR
Swiss professionsCulture & Media
Tonmeister/in
You shape soundscapes for music, film and theatre
01 · Overview
What this profession is about
Tonmeister/in capture and edit sounds for productions and ensure perfect acoustics.
You dive into the world of sound and shape audio landscapes for music, film and theatre. As Tonmeister/in, you combine technical know-how with artistic sensitivity. You record voices and instruments, optimise the acoustics on site and work closely with directors and producers. Your goal is to underscore every scene with the perfect sound and strengthen the emotional impact of the production.
FieldCulture & Media
Education pathHigher Education Profession
IndustryAudiovisual Media
Swissdoc 0.824.25.11
02 · Salary
What you can earn
✓ Exact salary match
Salaries reflect Swiss market data. Range covers entry to senior. Salary reference based on Tonmeisterin. Based on 12 observations, updated 7 months ago.
Salary trend
+61% over decadeView as table
| Period | Salary (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | CHF 41'000 |
| 2017-2019 | CHF 70'000 |
| 2020-2022 | CHF 75'146 |
| 2023-2025 | CHF 65'992 |
03 · Pathway
How to enter and grow
Swiss training pathway available in the full profile
- 🎓 Tonmeister/in
Official education path
You enter the field through specialised training or a university degree in sound engineering.
Typical training path
Tonmeister/in
Prerequisites
- Excellent musical understanding
- Good hearing as well as knowledge of the psychology of hearing and acoustics
- Solid technical knowledge and experience in recording and playback technology
Requirements
- Concentration skills
- Artistic empathy
- Dramaturgical knowledge of the work
- Imagination
- Creativity
- Audiovisual skills
Where this can lead
Career changers with a technical or musical background can specialise through further training and internships.
04 · Skills & fit
What it takes
Required skills
- Musical ear
- Technical understanding
- Artistic sensitivity
- Concentration skills
Personality fit
- Swiss career path
- Career transition
- Professional growth
05 · Daily reality
What the work feels like
Typical day
You stand in the recording studio or on stage and adjust microphones for the perfect sound balance. During recording, you monitor the levels and adjust the settings in real time to suit the local conditions.
- You position microphones for optimal sound recordings in the studio or on stage.
- You monitor signal levels and adjust the equipment during recording.
- You filter out distracting noises and highlight important voices or instruments.
- You coordinate closely with directors and production managers on the vision.
- You edit and mix the recorded sounds for the final mastering.
- You check the room acoustics and optimise the sound environment in advance.
Working conditions
You work in recording studios, at concerts, for film and theatre productions or in broadcasting. You often switch between fixed studios and changing filming or concert locations.
Where to learn
- Schweizer Verband Technischer Bühnen- und Veranstaltungsberufe svtbRäffelstrasse 20, 8045 Zürich
- Zürcher Hochschule der Künste Departement Musik Vertiefungen Kompositioin, Theorie, Tonmeister Toni-ArealPfingstweidstrasse 96, 8031 Zürich
Strengths
- Musical ear
- Technical understanding
- Artistic sensitivity
- Concentration skills
Trade-offs
- Physical strain
- Irregular hours
- High responsibility
- Stressful situations
06 · Similar
