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Musical Acoustics Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Acoustics Engineer, Beats Acoustics

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$142K - $263K/yr

Sound is an essential and compelling facet of the customer experience - Apple has assembled a world-class Acoustics team that enables our customers to experience music with delight, communicate with ...

Arista HealthCare

Musical Volunteer

Tucson, AZ · On-site

Music has a remarkable way of reaching people when words fall short. Whether it's a favorite hymn ... Guitar, piano, violin, flute, harp, ukulele, and other acoustic instruments are encouraged.

Infotech Sourcing

Acoustic Test Engineer

Kirkland, WA · On-site

... in acoustics, audio/electrical engineering, physics, audiology/hearing science, music/audio technology, biomedical engineering, or a related technical field -- or equivalent hands-on lab/test ...

Infotech Sourcing

Acoustic Test Engineer

Kirkland, WA · On-site

... in acoustics, audio/electrical engineering, physics, audiology/hearing science, music/audio technology, biomedical engineering, or a related technical field -- or equivalent hands-on lab/test ...

Infotech Sourcing

Acoustic Test Engineer

Kirkland, WA · On-site

... in acoustics, audio/electrical engineering, physics, audiology/hearing science, music/audio technology, biomedical engineering, or a related technical field -- or equivalent hands-on lab/test ...

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How much do musical acoustics jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for musical acoustics in the United States is $36.30, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.83 and $47.60 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is musical acoustics?

Musical acoustics is the scientific study of how sound is produced, transmitted, and perceived in the context of music. It explores the physical properties of musical instruments, the acoustics of performance spaces, and how humans interpret musical sounds. This field combines physics, engineering, music theory, and psychology to understand the mechanics behind musical tones, harmony, resonance, and timbre. Researchers and professionals in musical acoustics may work on improving instrument design, optimizing concert hall acoustics, or analyzing the perception of musical sounds.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a musical acoustician, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Musical Acoustician, a solid background in physics, mathematics, and music theory, often supported by a relevant degree or coursework, is essential. Familiarity with audio analysis software, acoustic measurement tools, and simulation systems is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, creativity, and effective communication skills help translate scientific findings into practical applications for musicians, instrument makers, or architects. These competencies are crucial for designing, testing, and improving musical instruments or spaces to achieve optimal sound quality.

What are some common challenges musical acousticians face when collaborating with instrument makers and performers?

Musical acousticians often work closely with instrument makers and performers to enhance instrument design and sound quality. One common challenge is bridging the gap between scientific measurements and subjective perceptions of sound, as performers may describe tonal qualities differently from how they are measured. Effective communication and mutual understanding are essential to translate technical findings into practical improvements. Additionally, acousticians must balance technical recommendations with artistic preferences and manufacturing constraints, requiring flexibility and collaborative problem-solving.

What is the difference between Musical Acoustics vs Audio Engineer?

AspectMusical AcousticsAudio Engineer
CredentialsDegree in acoustics, physics, or music technologyDegree or certification in audio engineering or sound design
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, concert hallsRecording studios, live events, broadcasting
Industry UsageSound quality in musical instruments, concert acousticsSound recording, mixing, live sound reinforcement

Musical Acoustics focuses on the science of sound in musical contexts, including instrument design and concert hall acoustics. In contrast, an Audio Engineer specializes in recording, mixing, and producing sound for music and media. While both roles require knowledge of sound principles, Musical Acoustics is more research-oriented, whereas Audio Engineering is more practical and production-focused.

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What job categories do people searching Musical Acoustics jobs look for?

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Musical Acoustics jobs near you
Infographic showing various Musical Acoustics job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 44% Full Time, 55% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $75,503 per year, or $36.3 per hour.

Acoustics Engineer, Beats Acoustics

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Apple
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing • 10K+ employees
Learn more about Appleexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 685 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

At Apple, new ideas have a way of quickly becoming extraordinary products, services and customer experiences. Sound is an essential and compelling facet of the customer experience - Apple has assembled a world-class Acoustics team that enables our customers to experience music with delight, communicate with clarity and appreciate our products without disturbance from noise. In Apple Acoustics we work with obsessive attention to detail, directly contributing to products that ship to millions of people around the world.
The Beats Acoustics team is responsible for the acoustic design and sound quality of all Beats audio products. We are a diverse team with expertise in acoustic design, hardware prototyping and integration, audio signal processing applications, critical listening, and hearing science. We work closely with multi-functional teams to find innovative solutions to complex engineering issues. We are searching for an Acoustic Engineer to help bring voice performance of Beats products to the next level.
Description
As an Acoustic Engineer on the Beats Acoustics team, you will be responsible for taking new and innovative microphone/telephony hardware concepts from the early design phase all the way to a mass produced audio product used by our customers. This includes giving input on the mechanical and electrical design to the industrial and product design teams. As a natural part of simulating, building, and validating acoustic designs, we also give input on the digital signal processing to ensure the overall audio product experience is second to none.
Limited international travel to support engineering and manufacturing test activities is required.
Minimum Qualifications
3+ years of relevant industry experience preferred.
A strong passion for audio and fundamental knowledge of acoustic theory, with proven success in the design, manufacturing and failure analysis of audio systems.
Practical understanding of microphones and acoustic transducers, and related equivalent circuit modeling techniques in the context of headphone and loudspeaker design.
Proficiency with acoustic simulation tools (e.g. LPM tools, COMSOL), with experience modeling acoustic systems having drivers, microphones, ports, meshes, etc.
Working knowledge of industry-standard acoustic test fixtures and audio analyzers such as Audio Precision, SoundCheck, and Klippel.
Excellent written, presentation, and interpersonal skills to engage effectively with multi-disciplinary team members.
Proficiency using tools such as MATLAB or Python for audio and acoustic system development and data analysis.
Most of our engineers have advanced degrees in Acoustics, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Physics, or an equivalent field, but if you've followed a different path to expertise in acoustics, we still want to hear from you.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with integration of microphones and VPUs, including designing for ingress protection.
Experience with microphone system failure analysis during production phases.
Proficiency with DAW's and audio signal prototyping/analysis tools such as MaxMSP, Adobe Audition, Audacity, etc.
Experience working with high-volume, international manufacturers.
Familiarity with 3D CAD tools.

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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