Sound designer

A sound designer creates custom sounds for a movie, TV series, video game, app, or brand. They craft what reality doesn’t provide: the sound of a spaceship, the voice of a creature, the atmosphere of an imaginary world, or the sound of an interface or logo.

What does a sound designer do?

He starts with a goal: to create a sense of fear, to make a machine seem believable, and to give a character an identity. He records real sounds—in the studio or on location—then transforms them, layers them, and mixes them with synthesized sounds until he achieves the desired result.

In film and animation, he creates a film’s sound effects and delivers them to the sound editor and mixer. In video games, he creates sound families and integrates them into the game engine so that they change based on speed, distance, or the player’s actions.

He also works in advertising, apps, and branding, where short, recognizable sounds are needed.

Sound designer, sound effects artist, or sound editor: What's the difference?

The sound effects artist recreates the sounds made by the characters—footsteps, clothing, objects—in the studio, in sync with the footage. The sound editor constructs a film’s soundtrack using sounds recorded on set, ambient sounds, and effects. The sound designer invents sounds that don’t exist, and his work extends beyond the realm of cinema.

In a film, these roles often overlap. The film production structure includes positions for a foley artist, sound editor, and sound mixer, but not a sound designer.

Who does the sound designer work with?

In film, he works with the director, the sound editor, and the sound mixer. In animation, there is no on-set sound: ambient sounds and effects are created entirely from scratch.

In the video game industry, he works with art directors, composers, and developers who integrate sound into the game. For a brand, he reports to an agency or a creative director.

What skills do you need to become a sound designer?

It requires a deep understanding of sound and a vivid imagination: knowing what each sound conveys and how to create it. You need to be proficient in recording, editing, synthesizing, and processing sound using digital audio workstations and software synthesizers.

For video games, you also need to be familiar with audio integration tools and game engines. A personal sound library and a demo reel are your best calling cards.

How much does a sound designer earn?

There is no specific minimum wage for sound designers. Collective bargaining agreements in the film and animation industries do not include this position; sound designers are paid according to the job title listed in their contract, or on a project basis when they work as freelancers. Here are the minimum wages for the most similar positions:

These amounts are based on the pay scale in the collective bargaining agreement for film production (IDCC 3097), effective May 1, 2026, and onAmendment No. 19 of June 14, 2024, to the collective bargaining agreement for animated film production (IDCC 2412). Video games and advertising are covered by other collective bargaining agreements.

According tothe CNC’s Film Production Observatory, 290 films were approved in 2025, including 16 French-produced animated films—a record.

What kind of education do you need to become a sound designer?

This profession requires training in sound engineering, which covers recording, editing, mixing, and synthesis. Musical experience is very helpful, as is a good understanding of film or video games.

At ESRA, the ESRA Sound program is a three-year course of study leading to a state-accredited “ degree ” degree at the Bac+3 level, with more than 700 hours of instruction per year. The first two years cover all aspects of sound production. In the third year, the audiovisual sound specialization includes sound design, and the video game specialization focuses on creating soundtracks and interactive soundscapes for video games and animated films.

What career opportunities and prospects are there?

Sound designers work for audio post-production studios, animation studios, video game publishers and studios, and advertising and sound design agencies. They may also work as freelancers.

This career path leads to positions such as sound supervisor for a film or video game, audio director at a video game studio, or creating a brand’s sound identity.

Sources: Légifrance, Collective Bargaining Agreement IDCC 3097, pay scale as of May 1, 2026, and Collective Bargaining Agreement IDCC 2412, Amendment No. 19 of June 14, 2024; CNC, Film Production Observatory, 2025. Verified on October 2, 2026.

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