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Career overview · SOC 27-4011

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.

Also called: Audio Technician · Audio Visual Specialist (AV Specialist) · AV Tech (Audio Visual Technician) · Media Technician · Operations Technician · Stagehand

Median pay (national)
$54,830
$35,290–$98,190 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
70,080
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+3.3%
~7,300 openings/yr
Typical entry
Postsecondary nondegree award

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for audio and video technicians shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $98,190 versus $35,290 at the bottom 10% — 2.8x. The median of $54,830 leaves roughly 79% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +3.3% from 2024 to 2034 — about as fast as the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 7,300 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, New Jersey pays the most for this role (median $75,220, +37% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $29,340 — a 156% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Teams, Zoom as in-demand technologies for this role.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Monitoring
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Mathematics
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • Notify supervisors when major equipment repairs are needed.
  • Install, adjust, and operate electronic equipment to record, edit, and transmit radio and television programs, motion pictures, video conferencing, or multimedia presentations.
  • Direct and coordinate activities of assistants and other personnel during production.
  • Compress, digitize, duplicate, and store audio and video data.
  • Control the lights and sound of events, such as live concerts, before and after performances, and during intermissions.
  • Switch sources of video input from one camera or studio to another, from film to live programming, or from network to local programming.
  • Record and edit audio material, such as movie soundtracks, using audio recording and editing equipment.
  • Perform minor repairs and routine cleaning of audio and video equipment.
  • Diagnose and resolve media system problems.
  • Design layouts of audio and video equipment and perform upgrades and maintenance.

Tools & technology

  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Zoom
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Cisco Webex
  • Linux
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • Apple iMovie
  • Blackboard software
  • Cisco IOS
  • Corel Ulead DVD Workshop

Knowledge areas

  • Computers and Electronics
  • Communications and Media
  • English Language
  • Telecommunications
  • Fine Arts
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Education and Training