Audio and Video Technicians: Career Overview
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.
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What Tasks Do Audio and Video Technicians Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of audio and video technicians include:
- 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.
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective audio and video technicians rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Audio and Video Technicians Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- AV Installation Tech (Audiovisual Installation Technician)
- AV Production Specialist (Audio Visual Production Specialist)
- AV Specialist (Audiovisual Specialist)
- AV Tech (Audio Visual Technician)
- AV Tech (Audiovisual Technician)
- Audio Installer
- Audio Technician
- Audio Video Technician
How Many Audio and Video Technicians Are There?
There are about 337,710 audio and video technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +6.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Audio and Video Technicians
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $73,086 |
| Hourly median | $35.14 |
| 10th percentile | $48,812 |
| 25th percentile | $60,949 |
| 75th percentile | $85,223 |
| 90th percentile | $97,360 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $75,220 |
| Washington | $73,160 |
| District of Columbia | $72,030 |
| Delaware | $69,310 |
| New York | $63,640 |
| Connecticut | $63,000 |
| California | $62,240 |
| Massachusetts | $61,680 |
| New Hampshire | $61,410 |
| Hawaii | $60,180 |
| Maryland | $59,820 |
| Wyoming | $59,390 |
| Nevada | $59,270 |
| West Virginia | $58,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,450 |
| Rhode Island | $57,250 |
| Missouri | $56,830 |
| Illinois | $55,030 |
| Colorado | $54,920 |
| Oregon | $53,850 |
| Michigan | $52,240 |
| Georgia | $51,000 |
| Virginia | $50,990 |
| Iowa | $50,720 |
| Florida | $50,170 |
| Texas | $49,290 |
| Nebraska | $48,470 |
| Wisconsin | $48,280 |
| New Mexico | $48,210 |
| Indiana | $48,190 |
| Alaska | $48,060 |
| Tennessee | $48,010 |
| Ohio | $47,560 |
| Minnesota | $47,460 |
| Oklahoma | $47,320 |
| Kansas | $47,070 |
| South Carolina | $46,890 |
| Idaho | $46,800 |
| Arizona | $45,790 |
| North Dakota | $45,740 |
| North Carolina | $43,870 |
| Maine | $43,860 |
| Montana | $43,500 |
| Alabama | $43,240 |
| Vermont | $42,170 |
| Utah | $41,600 |
| Kentucky | $41,590 |
| Louisiana | $40,240 |
| Arkansas | $38,620 |
| South Dakota | $37,440 |
| Mississippi | $33,210 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,340 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for audio and video technicians vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $64,081 | 22.9% | 1.64 |
| Far Western US | $62,327 | 20.6% | 1.34 |
| New England | $59,992 | 3.7% | 0.80 |
| Plains States | $51,055 | 5.0% | 0.84 |
| Great Lakes | $50,974 | 10.4% | 0.75 |
| Southeast | $48,182 | 22.8% | 1.10 |
| Southwest | $48,162 | 9.4% | 0.79 |
| Rocky Mountains | $46,118 | 4.7% | 1.74 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $78,480 | 1,890 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $76,450 | 1,010 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | CT | $76,170 | 50 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $75,660 | 600 |
| Springfield, MA | MA | $75,560 | 70 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $73,140 | 7,970 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $72,610 | 70 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $71,360 | 330 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of audio and video technicians work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Information | 14,570 | $56,150 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 13,310 | $51,560 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 10,850 | $51,230 |
| Educational Services | 7,790 | $54,120 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 6,200 | $56,230 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5,850 | $60,020 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 2,380 | $64,270 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,950 | $44,630 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Audio and Video Technicians Use
- Video creation and editing software: Adobe After Effects (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Cisco Webex (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Teams (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for audio and video technicians tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How to Become Audio and Video Technicians
Typical audio and video technicians positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Computer Network Support Specialists (Supplemental)
- Computer User Support Specialists (Supplemental)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Supplemental)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Robotics Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Media Programming Directors (Supplemental)
- Media Technical Directors/Managers (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Aspiring audio and video technicians typically earn programs in:
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services
2 programs across 1 majors
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 27-4011.00 (Audio and Video Technicians).
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