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Sound Design Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Ritchie Bros.

Staff Software Engineer

Westchester, IL · On-site

Improve system performance, resilience, and fault tolerance through sound design practices (timeouts, retries, idempotency, and graceful degradation). * Establish and enforce engineering standards ...

Varsity Tutors

Filmmaking Tutor

Oak Lawn, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of cinematography, screenwriting, directing, editing, sound design, lighting techniques, camera operation, pre-production planning, and post-production workflows. Ability to explain ...

Varsity Tutors

Filmmaking Tutor

Highland Park, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of cinematography, screenwriting, directing, editing, sound design, lighting techniques, camera operation, pre-production planning, and post-production workflows. Ability to explain ...

Varsity Tutors

Filmmaking Tutor

Wheaton, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of cinematography, screenwriting, directing, editing, sound design, lighting techniques, camera operation, pre-production planning, and post-production workflows. Ability to explain ...

Ritchie Bros.

Staff Software Engineer

Westchester, IL · On-site

Improve system performance, resilience, and fault tolerance through sound design practices (timeouts, retries, idempotency, and graceful degradation). * Establish and enforce engineering standards ...

Varsity Tutors

Filmmaking Tutor

Naperville, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of cinematography, screenwriting, directing, editing, sound design, lighting techniques, camera operation, pre-production planning, and post-production workflows. Ability to explain ...

Varsity Tutors

Filmmaking Tutor

Lake Forest, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of cinematography, screenwriting, directing, editing, sound design, lighting techniques, camera operation, pre-production planning, and post-production workflows. Ability to explain ...

Varsity Tutors

Filmmaking Tutor

Evanston, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of cinematography, screenwriting, directing, editing, sound design, lighting techniques, camera operation, pre-production planning, and post-production workflows. Ability to explain ...

Varsity Tutors

Filmmaking Tutor

Chicago, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of cinematography, screenwriting, directing, editing, sound design, lighting techniques, camera operation, pre-production planning, and post-production workflows. Ability to explain ...

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Showing results 41-60

All JobsSound Design JobsSound Design Jobs in Chicago, IL

Sound Design information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$43.3K

$118K

$207.7K

How much do sound design jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for sound design in Chicago, IL is $118,035.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $86,100.00 and $148,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a sound designer typically collaborate with directors and other production team members during a project?

Sound designers work closely with directors, producers, and editors to achieve the desired audio experience for a project. Early in the process, they participate in creative discussions to understand the director’s vision and story requirements. Throughout production, sound designers often attend meetings, provide sample soundscapes, and adjust their work based on feedback from the team. Effective communication and flexibility are crucial, as sound designers must adapt their creations to fit evolving project needs and technical constraints.

What is the difference between Sound Design vs Audio Editing?

AspectSound DesignAudio Editing
Primary FocusCreating and manipulating sounds for mediaEditing and assembling audio recordings
Skills & ToolsSound synthesis, Foley, DAWs, creative sound manipulationCutting, splicing, leveling, noise reduction
Work EnvironmentFilm, TV, video games, advertisingPost-production, broadcasting, film editing
CredentialsAudio production, sound design courses, experience with DAWsAudio engineering, editing software proficiency

Sound Design involves creating and shaping sounds to enhance media, while Audio Editing focuses on refining and assembling existing recordings. Both roles require familiarity with digital audio workstations and audio production skills, but they serve different creative and technical purposes within the media industry.

What is sound design?

Sound design is the process of creating, recording, manipulating, and mixing audio elements for various media, such as film, television, video games, theater, and music production. Sound designers are responsible for crafting everything from ambient background noises to specific sound effects that enhance the audience's experience. Their work can involve recording real-world sounds, synthesizing new ones, and editing audio to fit a project's needs. Sound design is essential for building atmosphere, conveying moods, and supporting storytelling in audiovisual productions.

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

To thrive as a Sound Designer, you need a deep understanding of audio engineering, acoustics, and creative sound creation, often supported by a degree in audio production or a related field. Familiarity with digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Pro Tools or Ableton Live, as well as experience with sound libraries and audio editing software, is essential. Strong collaboration, creativity, and attention to detail set exceptional sound designers apart. These skills ensure the creation of immersive and high-quality audio experiences that enhance storytelling across various media.
What are the most commonly searched types of Sound Design jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Sound Design jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What are popular job titles related to Sound Design jobs in Chicago, IL? For Sound Design jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Sound Design jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Sound Design jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Sound Design jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Sound Design job openings:
Sound Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Sound Design job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 90% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,035 per year, or $56.7 per hour.

Adjunct Faculty Pool, School of Film and Television Arts

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, IL • On-site

$5.6K/mo

Part-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

In addition to its regular, full-time faculty, Columbia College Chicago hires scholars, creative professionals and other industry-experienced Adjunct Faculty to teach courses on a part-time basis. These positions are not available every semester and are contingent upon student enrollment and the availability of funding.

To be qualified to teach at the college, candidates must possess a degree at least one level above the level at which they teach, with a terminal degree in the relevant discipline as the preferred credential. In terminal degree programs, faculty members will possess the same level of degree. In occasional cases, demonstrated currency in a specialized discipline and a sustained history of distinguished professional work, compelling creative achievements, or other significant experience in the relevant field may be considered as an alternative to the required degree.  

To be qualified to teach at the college, candidates must possess a degree at least one level above the level at which they teach, with a terminal degree in the relevant discipline as the preferred credential. In terminal degree programs, faculty members will possess the same level of degree. In occasional cases, demonstrated currency in a specialized discipline and a sustained history of distinguished professional work, compelling creative achievements, or other significant experience in the relevant field may be considered as an alternative to the required degree. 

The School of Film and Television  offers courses in Screenwriting, Producing, Directing, Cinematography, Production Design, Editing, Location Sound, Sound Design, Film Color and Finishing, and Film and television theory / history. 

To be considered for part-time teaching opportunities in the School of Film and Television, click on the link below to apply. Please include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and three references. Further materials, such as official transcripts sent from the degree-granting institution, may be requested at a later date.

Entry level compensation rate for teaching one 3-credit course as of Fall 2026 is $5,635.00. Compensation for courses that carry fewer or more than three credits will be prorated down or up accordingly.

At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life, and accidental, death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits. Click here  for more information.

Columbia College Chicago actively promotes access to an expansive array of social and cultural theories, practices and perspectives that are vitally important to the successful delivery of a contemporary creative curriculum and the college's mission to educate students who will author the culture of their times. These principles are essential to the educational experiences of our students, staff, and faculty. 

We seek individuals with a demonstrated ability to work with students from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds, and whose creative, scholarly and/or professional work contributes to a rich educational experience consistent with our mission. For more information, please visit: colum.edu/academic-access-and-excellence.

Additional Information:

  • Position subject to a background screening.

  • This is a union position.

  • This is position is overtime ineligible. 

    Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.

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