Wild is famed for his seemingly effortless technique and his massive repertoire. His career spans seven decades, having begun when he joined the Pittsburgh Symphony as a teenager. A longtime pianist and composer for the NBC and ABC radio and television networks, he gave the first piano recital on live television in 1939. He has premiered many works, including the Piano Concertos of Paul Creston and Marvin David Levy.

Among Wild's hundreds of recordings are a highly successful series of transcriptions; he won a Grammy in 1997 for a collection of transcriptions ranging from Handel to Rachmaninoff. He is a distinguished interpreter of Liszt, and is known for reviving the virtuoso works of little-known 19th century composers including Nikolai Medtner, Ignace Paderewski, and Mily Balakirev.