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Occupation · 2026 assessment

Sound Designer

The Sound Designer role combines repeatable operations with decisions that require professional context. The index measures task exposure to AI, software automation and robotics—not the probability that the occupation disappears.

Moderate risk level Search jobs ↗
How risk may change

A forecast estimate, not a guaranteed scenario.

54%2026
58%2028
62%2030
68%2035

Which tasks are exposed

Risk applies to individual tasks—not to a person or an entire occupation.

TaskRisk
Generating initial concept variants81%
Adapting an approved solution to formats77%
Selecting visual language and defending the concept46%
Transcription, subtitles and initial tagging81%
Preparing summaries and drafts79%
Basic editing and technical processing74%
Classifying and publishing content73%
Verifying facts, sources and context48%

Task map

AI replaces ↔ AI augments

Each task is positioned by AI capability and the degree of human involvement still required.

  1. 1Generating initial concept variantsAI 81% · human 44%
  2. 2Adapting an approved solution to formatsAI 77% · human 37%
  3. 3Selecting visual language and defending the conceptAI 46% · human 58%
  4. 4Transcription, subtitles and initial taggingAI 81% · human 45%
  5. 5Preparing summaries and draftsAI 79% · human 39%
  6. 6Basic editing and technical processingAI 74% · human 50%
  7. 7Classifying and publishing contentAI 73% · human 41%
  8. 8Verifying facts, sources and contextAI 48% · human 49%

Why technology can change this work

  • transcription, editing and first-pass review can be automated
  • AI generates text, voice, images and video
  • aggregators automate personalized distribution

What protects the occupation

  • access to people and real-world events
  • editorial accountability and fact checking
  • authorial voice, investigation and reputation

United States · before tax

Average pay and outlook

Estimated nominal monthly pay. The scenario reflects sector, demand and task resilience; it is not a guarantee of income.

2026$6 150per month
2035$8 300scenario estimate
2026: $6 15020262027: $6 35020272028: $6 60020282029: $6 80020292030: $7 05020302031: $7 25020312032: $7 50020322033: $7 75020332034: $8 05020342035: $8 3002035
Find jobs ↗The partner link may contain referral parameters. Data benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ↗

Practical next step

Where to move next

Do not restart from zero: carry your experience forward and add scarce skills.

Deepfake Forensics Analyst

Emerging role
New role risk14%
DemandHighDifficultyMediumTime6–12 monthsSkill fit58%

AI Evaluation Engineer

Emerging role
New role risk16%
DemandHighDifficultyMediumTime6–12 monthsSkill fit64%

Online Community Safety Manager

Emerging role
New role risk31%
DemandHighDifficultyHighTime12–24 monthsSkill fit54%

Synthetic Media Producer

Emerging role
New role risk44%
DemandHighDifficultyLowTime3–6 monthsSkill fit83%

Virtual Production Director

Emerging role
New role risk29%
DemandHighDifficultyLowTime3–6 monthsSkill fit81%

Digital Avatar Producer

Emerging role
New role risk35%
DemandHighDifficultyLowTime3–6 monthsSkill fit81%

Job search and transitions

Find work with a lower risk index

Compare adjacent paths and open a current search for the selected occupation.

Skills you already have

  • source work
  • editing
  • storytelling
  • fact checking

Skills to build

  • synthetic-content verification
  • AI production
  • multimedia storytelling
  • digital-rights management
CurrentSound Designer · 54%
→
Keepsource work · editing · storytelling
→
Addsynthetic-content verification · AI production · multimedia storytelling

Sources and update

Updated: 2026-09-25 · Assessment confidence: Medium

International Labour Organization · 2025Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure

Nearly 30,000 tasks; a global assessment of GenAI exposure across detailed occupational groups.

World Economic Forum · 2025The Future of Jobs Report 2025

A survey of more than 1,000 employers representing over 14 million workers across 55 economies.

O*NET Resource Center · 2026O*NET Database

Occupational, task, skill and work-context structure.