Occupations · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Lighting Technicians
Set up, maintain, and dismantle light fixtures, lighting control devices, and the associated lighting electrical and rigging equipment used for photography, television, film, video, and live productions. May focus or operate light fixtures, or attach color filters or other lighting accessories.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 27-4015.00
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 18% between 2021 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $83,200 | 2,440 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $86,510 | 840 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $55,320 | 480 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | $66,370 | 330 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $57,360 | 290 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $60,480 | 260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $64,300 | 240 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $83,340 | 240 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $60,320 | 180 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $47,320 | 170 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $47,680 | 130 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | $49,880 | 120 |
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
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
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.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| lighting technician | 3435.12 | exact |
| theatre technician | 3435.23 | close |
| stage technician | 3435.23.5 | close |
| intelligent lighting engineer | 3435.12.1 | broader |
| light board operator | 3435.23.2 | broader |
| followspot operator | 3435.23.1 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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