Recent emphasis placed on adoption ofA‐weighted sound‐level measurements for identifying degrees of auditory risk has prompted investigations which facilitate and clarify compromises associated with the introduction ofA‐weighted levels. The authors have compared recent estimates of auditory risk which employA‐weighted measures with those utilizing octave‐band data. The results derived from this study yieldedC‐Avalues that can be used to equateA‐weighted measurements with octave‐band auditory‐risk criteria. Auditory‐risk contours are reported for protected and unprotected exposures measured withC‐ andA‐weighted sound levels. These contours also reportC‐Avalues from which equivalentA‐weighted levels for conditions of attenuation (earplugs, earmuffs, and communication headsets) can be determined for durations of exposure ranging from 2 to 480 min per day.