Lighting Technicians: Career Overview
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.
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The Daily Work of Lighting Technicians Take On?
The core tasks performed by lighting technicians span:
- Assess safety of wiring or equipment set-up to determine the risk of fire or electrical shock.
- Consult with lighting director or production staff to determine lighting requirements.
- Disassemble and store equipment after performances.
- Install color effects or image patterns, such as color filters, onto lighting fixtures.
- Install electrical cables or wire fixtures.
- Load, unload, or position lighting equipment.
- Match light fixture settings, such as brightness and color, to lighting design plans.
- Notify supervisors when major lighting equipment repairs are needed.
Other Lighting Technicians Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Controls Technician (Controls Tech)
- Dimmer Board Operator
- Electrical Lighting Technician (ELT)
- Entertainment Lighting Technician
- Entertainment Professional
- Gaffer
- Lamp Operator
- Light Technician (Light Tech)
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 88,113 lighting technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +13.2% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Lighting Technicians
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $45,092 |
| Hourly median | $21.68 |
| 10th percentile | $27,255 |
| 25th percentile | $36,174 |
| 75th percentile | $54,010 |
| 90th percentile | $62,928 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Lighting Technicians Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $109,670 |
| Hawaii | $90,530 |
| Colorado | $83,580 |
| New Jersey | $83,340 |
| New York | $83,200 |
| California | $74,670 |
| District of Columbia | $70,190 |
| Nevada | $64,250 |
| Oklahoma | $63,410 |
| Massachusetts | $62,010 |
| New Hampshire | $61,880 |
| New Mexico | $61,180 |
| Georgia | $58,610 |
| Tennessee | $57,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,010 |
| Michigan | $55,380 |
| South Carolina | $54,600 |
| Texas | $54,070 |
| Virginia | $52,000 |
| Utah | $48,830 |
| Maryland | $48,380 |
| Illinois | $47,320 |
| Kansas | $46,500 |
| Nebraska | $45,870 |
| Indiana | $45,690 |
| Oregon | $44,560 |
| Ohio | $42,940 |
| Missouri | $41,600 |
| Florida | $39,950 |
| North Carolina | $39,270 |
Where Lighting Technicians Earn the Most
Compensation for lighting technicians vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $74,986 | 19.8% | 1.31 |
| Far Western US | $71,922 | 44.3% | 2.80 |
| Rocky Mountains | $64,120 | 2.7% | 0.94 |
| New England | $61,977 | 1.7% | 0.58 |
| Southwest | $56,420 | 3.7% | 0.38 |
| Great Lakes | $46,124 | 4.5% | 0.50 |
| Southeast | $46,027 | 21.4% | 1.70 |
| Plains States | $44,454 | 1.9% | 0.59 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Lighting Technicians
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $120,610 | 60 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $90,530 | 30 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $88,770 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $86,510 | 840 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $83,340 | 240 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $83,200 | 2,440 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | UT | $67,190 | 90 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | NV | $66,370 | 330 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of lighting technicians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 2,870 | $56,820 |
| Information | 2,820 | $101,170 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 880 | $61,410 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 820 | $61,040 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 680 | $52,000 |
| Construction | 390 | $49,510 |
| Educational Services | 200 | $53,570 |
| Retail Trade | 50 | $67,320 |
Below are examples of industries where lighting technicians work:
Software Lighting Technicians Use
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (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 Project (hot technology)
Getting Started in This Career
This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Robotics Technicians (Supplemental)
- Electricians (Primary-Short)
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
- Solar Photovoltaic Installers (Supplemental)
- Helpers–Electricians (Primary-Long)
- Avionics Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring lighting technicians typically earn programs in:
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services
2 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced 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: 27-4015.00 (Lighting Technicians).
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