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.
What it pays
Lighting Technicians earn a median of $32.72/hr — about $68,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.34/hr; the top 10% earn $62.87/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Lighting Technicians earn a median of $32.72/hr — about $68,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $20.34/hr; the top 10% earn $62.87/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- 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.
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
Time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 13.1% of lighting technicians are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- Interior Designers
- Graphic Designers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Writers and Authors
- Editors
- Commercial and Industrial Designers
Quick questions
- How much does a lighting technician make?
- The median pay is $32.72 per hour — roughly $68,000 a year, with the real range running from about $20.34/hr (10th percentile) to $62.87/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a lighting technician?
- The typical entry-level education is: Post-secondary certificate. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
- What does a lighting technician actually do all day?
- 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.
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.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.