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. Excludes “Audio and Video Technicians” (27-4011).
National median · BLS
$68,060
▲ +12.38%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$78,380
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
8,900
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Lighting Technicians
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$42,310
25th
$52,770
Median (50th)
$68,060
75th
$95,640
90th — top pay
$130,760
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Lighting Technicians
BLS projects employment of lighting technicians to decline 4.8% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 600 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
9,900 → 9,400
-500 jobs
Projected change
-4.8%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
600
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
12.2% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Lighting Technicians salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Skills & tools
Skills needed for Lighting Technicians
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Software and technology used
Microsoft Office softwareAutodesk AutoCADMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectFileMaker ProMicrosoft Internet ExplorerProgrammable logic controller PLC softwareRockwell RSLogixSAP Maintenance
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What lighting technicians 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.
Match light fixture settings, such as brightness and color, to lighting design plans.
Notify supervisors when major lighting equipment repairs are needed.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Lighting Technicians, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $68,060.
