Sweetwater
Sweetwater is a prominent American retailer based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, specializing in musical instruments, professional audio equipment, and lighting. Founded in 1979 by Chuck Surack, the company has grown from a mobile recording studio into the largest online retailer of musical instruments and pro audio gear in the United States. The product range at Sweetwater includes guitars, keyboards, recording software, live sound systems, and lighting equipment. The company also features world-class recording studios and performance facilities, showcasing its deep roots in music production. Sweetwater is dedicated to exceptional customer support, offering expert advice and a wide selection of quality products to musicians, producers, educators, and audio professionals across the country. With a commitment to fairness and integrity, Sweetwater has established a loyal customer base and continues to expand its services, including a robust e-commerce platform and a large on-site retail space. The company emphasizes a customer-first approach, ensuring that it meets the needs of its diverse clientele.
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Headcount trend
Sweetwater went from 1,530 employees in Jul 2023 to 1,523 in Jun 2025. Jan to Jun 2025: 53 people joined, 39 left.
Headcount data through Jun 2025
Org structure
Headcount by department
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All salaries3 salary profiles in the US
Most reported roles
Funding
- Jun 2021 ยท Providence Equity Partners
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Sweetwater FAQ
How many employees does Sweetwater have?
Sweetwater has about 1,523 employees, down 0.3% over the 3 months to Jun 2025.
What is Sweetwater's revenue per employee?
Sweetwater makes about $1.03M in revenue per employee, based on $1.57B annual revenue and 1,523 employees.
How much does Sweetwater pay?
6figr has 3 salary profiles for Sweetwater in the US, with pay broken down by role, level, gender and ethnicity on the Sweetwater salaries page. See Sweetwater salaries
Data from Company Prospectus, DOL LCA disclosures, WARN notices and 6figr salary profiles.