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Audiovisual Communications

Instructional content for this group of programs is defined in codes 10.0201- 10.0299.

Types of Degrees Audiovisual Communications Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Audiovisual Communications have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	1,883
Associate’s Degree	1,919
Bachelor’s Degree	1,273
Master’s Degree	2,075

What Audiovisual Communications Majors Need to Know

Studies in Audiovisual Communications build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Audiovisual Communications graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Audiovisual Communications emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Communications and Media — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Telecommunications — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a Audiovisual Communications program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Active Listening — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Audiovisual Communications careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Information Ordering — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Audiovisual Communications graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.7 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.9 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Audiovisual Communications professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Apple Final Cut Pro	Video creation and editing software	✓
Adobe Photoshop	Graphics or photo imaging software	✓
Adobe Illustrator	Graphics or photo imaging software	✓
YouTube	Video creation and editing software	—
Adobe InDesign	Desktop publishing software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Adobe Premiere Pro	Video creation and editing software	✓
Avid Technology audio visual editing software	Video creation and editing software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Audiovisual Communications graduates include:

• Operations Technician
• Video Operator
• Video Production Assistant
• Sound Controller
• Media Technician
• Stagehand
• Theater Technician
• Filmmaker
• Music, Sound, and Light Technician
• Video Production Specialist
• AV Tech (Audio Visual Technician)
• Video Control Operator
• Video Projection Technician
• Event Technician
• Stage Technician

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Audiovisual Communications graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	37.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	21.4%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	21.2%
Postsecondary certificate	12.1%
Some college courses	6.3%
First professional degree	0.6%
Post-master’s certificate	0.6%
Master’s degree	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Audiovisual Communications?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 73.2% of Audiovisual Communications degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	1,920	26.8%
Men	5,249	73.2%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Audiovisual Communications graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	2,901	40.5%
Asian	257	3.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1,995	27.8%
Black or African American	1,337	18.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native	46	0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	15	0.2%
Two or More Races	321	4.5%
Race Unknown	164	2.3%
International Students	133	1.9%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Audiovisual Communications Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Audiovisual Communications graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$20,139
4 years	$28,273
5 years	$32,523

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $32,523 — roughly 61% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Audiovisual Communications Programs

Online study is tracked by IPEDS for Audiovisual Communications. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	12	12
Bachelor’s	3	1
Master’s	1	0

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Audiovisual Communications Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Audiovisual Communications graduates earn a median of $28,273 four years after completion — about 26% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Communications Tech Support	16,676
Graphic Communications	8,298
Communications Technologies/Technicians	1,043
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services, Other	166
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS AND SUPPORT SERVICES	—

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.