Occupations · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Audio and Video Technicians

Set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment, such as microphones, sound speakers, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, video cameras, video monitors and servers, and related electronic equipment for live or recorded events, such as concerts, meetings, conventions, presentations, podcasts, news conferences, and sporting events.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 27-4011.00

$54,830median annual wage, May 2024

70,080people employed, United States

▲ 3.3%projected change, 2024→2034

7,300openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 78% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$73,140	7,970
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$62,710	5,080
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$51,690	2,040
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$63,900	1,960
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$78,480	1,890
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$56,620	1,700
Salt Lake City, UT	$36,300	1,550
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$49,840	1,490
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	$60,140	1,490
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	$45,790	1,290
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$48,720	1,260
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$60,770	1,260

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Postsecondary nondegree award · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Notify supervisors when major equipment repairs are needed.
Diagnose and resolve media system problems.
Direct and coordinate activities of assistants and other personnel during production.
Compress, digitize, duplicate, and store audio and video data.
Install, adjust, and operate electronic equipment to record, edit, and transmit radio and television programs, motion pictures, video conferencing, or multimedia presentations.
Monitor incoming and outgoing pictures and sound feeds to ensure quality and notify directors of any possible problems.
Mix and regulate sound inputs and feeds or coordinate audio feeds with television pictures.
Control the lights and sound of events, such as live concerts, before and after performances, and during intermissions.
Switch sources of video input from one camera or studio to another, from film to live programming, or from network to local programming.
Record and edit audio material, such as movie soundtracks, using audio recording and editing equipment.
Perform minor repairs and routine cleaning of audio and video equipment.
Construct and position properties, sets, lighting equipment, and other equipment.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Monitoring3.8

Critical Thinking3.5

Reading Comprehension3.5

Speaking3.1

Writing3.1

Active Listening3.1

Active Learning3.0

Learning Strategies2.8

Mathematics2.0

Science1.0

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Adobe After Effects●Adobe Illustrator●Adobe InDesign●Adobe Photoshop●Cisco Webex●Linux●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Teams●Microsoft Windows●Microsoft Word●Zoom●Adobe DreamweaverApple Final Cut ProApple iMovieBlackboard softwareCisco IOSCorel Ulead DVD WorkshopVoice over internet protocol VoIP system softwareWeb browser softwareYouTube

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−1.2 below average

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls+1.1 above average

Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities+1.1 above average

Written Letters and Memos−0.9 below average

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable−0.9 below average

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled+0.9 above average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions−0.9 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2018-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree43%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)25%

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)20%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)11%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2018-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Realistic5.2

Conventional4.6

Artistic3.2

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Operate drones for aerial videography and photography during live events or for pre-recorded material.
Purchase audio or video equipment.

O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Operations Monitoring3.5

Complex Problem Solving3.2

Service Orientation3.1

Coordination3.1

Social Perceptiveness3.0

Systems Analysis3.0

Operation and Control3.0

Time Management3.0

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Computers and ElectronicsCommunications and MediaEnglish LanguageTelecommunicationsFine ArtsEngineering and Technology

Abilities it leans on

Near VisionOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionProblem SensitivityInformation OrderingWritten Comprehension

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

StagehandVideo OperatorVideo InstallerAudio InstallerStage TechnicianVideo TechnicianEvent TechnicianMedia TechnicianAudio TechnicianSound ControllerTheater TechnicianProjector OperatorEvent Crew TechnicianOperations Technician

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning.

Now listed 14

+Adobe Photoshop+Adobe After Effects+Blackboard software+Adobe Dreamweaver+Adobe InDesign+Zoom+Microsoft Windows+YouTube+Cisco Webex+Linux+Microsoft Teams+Cisco IOS+Adobe Illustrator+Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software

No longer listed 5

−Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software−Computer aided design CAD software−Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator−Adobe Systems Adobe Flash Player−Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

LaseristProducerStagehandVideographerVideo EditorPhotographerProjectionistRadio ProducerVideo OperatorVideo InstallerAudio InstallerPhotojournalist

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
audio-visual technician	3521.1	broader
video technician	3521.1.13	broader
recording studio technician	3521.1.7	broader
sound operator	3521.1.11	broader
boom operator	3521.1.2	broader
audio production technician	3521.1.1	broader
performance rental technician	3521.1.5	broader
instrument technician	7312.2	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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