How much does a audio and video technician make?

The median pay is $27.93 per hour — roughly $58,000 a year, with the real range running from about $18.26/hr (10th percentile) to $48.39/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What does a audio and video technician actually do all day?

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.

Arts & 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.

What it pays
Audio and Video Technicians earn a median of $27.93/hr — about $58,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $18.26/hr; the top 10% earn $48.39/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the day is spent working solo; it rewards working independently; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 11% of audio and video technicians are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on, organized and detail-focused and creative.

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Quick questions

How much does a audio and video technician make?: The median pay is $27.93 per hour — roughly $58,000 a year, with the real range running from about $18.26/hr (10th percentile) to $48.39/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a audio and video technician?: The typical entry-level education is: Post-secondary certificate. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
What does a audio and video technician actually do all day?: 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.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

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