HUMANITIES Zone 3: Medium Preparation

Lighting Technicians

Lighting Technicians earn $68,060 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $52,770 and $95,640. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.

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About Lighting Technicians

This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a lighting technicians: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.

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.

Median Wage: $68,060
Employed Nationally: 9K
Openings / Year: 600
Entry Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Zone: Zone 3: Medium Preparation

Also known as:

Dimmer Board Operator Electrical Lighting Technician (ELT) Entertainment Lighting Technician Gaffer Lamp Operator

How Much Do Lighting Technicians Make?

Most lighting technicians take home around $68,060 a year, about what a typical college graduate makes. Half earn somewhere between $52,770 and $95,640, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.

A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.

$68,060

National Median (Annual)

Near the national median for college graduates.

$53K–$96K

Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.

Earnings Range

$52,770 Entry-level

$68,060 Median

$95,640 Experienced

The mean wage for this occupation is $78,380, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.

What Is the Job Outlook for Lighting Technicians?

Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by -4.8%, meaning it is shrinking, so expect more competition for fewer roles. Around 600 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.

Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.

↘ -4.8%

10-Year Growth (2025–2035)

Declining employment projected.

600

Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Lighting Technicians professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $68,060 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

#	State	Jobs	Median Wage	vs. National
1	California	2,950	$94,070	+38.2%
2	New York	780	$78,000	+14.6%
3	Florida	600	$62,190	-8.6%
4	Nevada	390	$61,250	-10.0%
5	New Jersey	340	$87,550	+28.6%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

To get hired here you will usually need a postsecondary nondegree award. The program below is the most common route in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.

Typical Entry Education Postsecondary nondegree award

Job Zone

Zone 3: Medium Preparation

A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.

Degree Programs That Lead Here

#	Program	Graduates/yr	4yr Median	Colleges
1	Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians	6,764	$44,889	339

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Top Colleges for Aspiring Lighting Technicians

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

#	College	UCD Score	Net Price	Salary 10yr
1	College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO	88	$6,100	$41,592
2	Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD	88	$18,809	$87,555
3	De Anza College Cupertino, CA	85	$6,642	$56,596
4	Miami Dade College Miami, FL	84	$5,463	$40,654
5	San Diego Miramar College San Diego, CA	83	$3,337	$48,224
6	Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CA	83	$7,653	$57,072

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Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Lighting Technicians, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if the degree that leads to Lighting Technicians pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Lighting Technicians Pros & Cons

Lighting Technicians has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 2 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.

PROS

Competitive salary $68,060 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a postsecondary nondegree award, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.

CONS

Declining employment The BLS projects -4.8% employment change through 2035. This field is expected to shrink. Automation, offshoring, or structural industry change are likely factors.
High earnings variance The gap between the 25th ($52,770) and 75th ($95,640) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, location, and specialization.

Lighting Technicians Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Lighting Technicians professionals earn?

Around $68,060 a year for the typical worker, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $52,770 and $95,640. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.

Is Lighting Technicians a good career?

With realistic expectations. The BLS projects -4.8% employment change through 2035. This field is shrinking, not expanding. The $68,060 median wage is competitive, but most openings come from retirements and exits rather than new positions. If you're drawn to this work, differentiate through a specialized niche or adjacent certification that keeps you relevant as the broader field contracts.

How do I become a Lighting Technicians?

Most Lighting Technicians positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians are common starting points.

Why are Lighting Technicians jobs declining?

The BLS projects -4.8% employment change for Lighting Technicians through 2035. Declining occupations typically face some combination of automation, industry consolidation, offshoring, or reduced consumer demand, rarely a single cause. Despite the overall decline, about 600 openings per year are still projected, mostly replacements for workers who retire or leave, not new positions. 9K people currently work in this field, so while it's contracting, active hiring still occurs. Specialization in high-value segments of the role gives the strongest protection.