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.
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.
Also known as:
Lighting Technicians earn $68,060 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $52,770 and $95,640. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Near the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
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.
The BLS projects -4.6% employment change for Lighting Technicians through 2034, a declining trend, below the national average of +5%. About 800 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Declining employment projected.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
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 | 3,330 | $74,670 | +9.7% |
| 2 | Florida | 1,240 | $39,950 | -41.3% |
| 3 | New York | 910 | $83,200 | +22.2% |
| 4 | Tennessee | 410 | $57,360 | -15.7% |
| 5 | New Jersey | 400 | $83,340 | +22.5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Lighting Technicians positions require a postsecondary nondegree award to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | 6,764 | $44,889 | 339 |
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 |
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.
See if the degree that leads to Lighting Technicians pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Lighting Technicians has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 2 upsides and 2 concerns below are all data-sourced.
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