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Broadcasting & News
NBCUniversal, CBS, ESPN
Audio and Video Technicians
Audio and video technicians set up and run the gear that records, switches, edits, and sends sound and video for concerts, studios, conferences, and broadcasts. The work stands out because a lot of it happens in real time, where one bad cable, missed cue, or wrong source can affect the whole event. It is a mix of creative support and constant technical vigilance, with steady pressure to solve problems fast.
Also known as Audio Visual TechnicianAV TechnicianBroadcast TechnicianStudio TechnicianProduction Technician
Median Salary
$54,830
Mean $61,370
U.S. Workforce
~70K
7.3K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.3%
92.3K to 95.4K
Entry Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Audio and Video Technicians sits in the Creative category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~70K workers, with a median annual pay of $54,830 and roughly 7.3K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 92.3 K in 2024 to 95.4K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in audio production, broadcast technology, film, or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Entry-Level Production Assistant and can progress toward Technical Director / Operations Manager. High-value skills usually include Signal Monitoring, Meters & Quality Control, Digital Audio Workstations (Pro Tools, Adobe Audition), and Broadcast Video Switchers & Signal Routing, paired with soft skills such as Monitoring, Critical Thinking, and Operations Monitoring.
Core Responsibilities
- Set up microphones, cameras, speakers, monitors, and switching gear before a show or recording session starts.
- Watch audio and video levels during a live event and make quick adjustments when something sounds or looks off.
- Move raw recordings into compressed, digital, and archived formats so they can be stored or shared.
- Run lights and sound cues for concerts, stage shows, and conference events.
Keep exploring: more Creative careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Set up microphones, cameras, speakers, monitors, and switching gear before a show or recording session starts.
02 Watch audio and video levels during a live event and make quick adjustments when something sounds or looks off.
03 Move raw recordings into compressed, digital, and archived formats so they can be stored or shared.
04 Run lights and sound cues for concerts, stage shows, and conference events.
05 Record and edit audio tracks for films, videos, ads, or other media projects.
06 Work with directors, assistants, and crew members, and report equipment problems that need repair or replacement.
Industries That Hire
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Live Events & Concert Production
Live Nation, AEG Presents, Madison Square Garden Entertainment
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Film, TV & Streaming
Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery
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Corporate AV & Conferencing
Google, Microsoft, Cisco
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Event Production & Equipment Rental
PRG, Clair Global, Solotech
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is respectable for a hands-on technical job, with a mean annual wage of $61,370 and a median of $54,830.
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You do not need prior work experience to start, and the usual training is short-term on-the-job training.
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There are about 7.3K annual openings, so people leave and move around often enough to keep openings available.
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The work is varied: one day you may be in a studio, the next in a concert hall or conference room.
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Skills transfer across media settings, so experience with cameras, audio, switching, and troubleshooting can lead to different kinds of jobs.
Challenges
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Growth is modest, at just 3.3% from 2024 to 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field.
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The career ceiling can be real unless you move into supervision, broadcast engineering, or operations management.
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Even though the role is technical, a lot of the work is tied to live events, so nights, weekends, and last-minute calls are common.
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When something fails on air or during a performance, the pressure is immediate and there is little room to slow down and think.
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The job can be vulnerable to budget swings, venue schedules, and more automated media systems that reduce demand for routine tasks.
Career Progression
Entry-Level Production Assistant
0-2 years
$30K-$40K
You help with setup, cable runs, gear checks, and basic support while learning how live events and studio sessions work.
Audio and Video Technician
2-5 years
$43K-$65K
You run equipment, monitor signals, switch sources, and fix common problems during recordings, broadcasts, and live events.
Senior Audio and Video Technician THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$66K-$82K
You take on more complex systems, troubleshoot harder failures, and may lead smaller crews or coordinate multiple feeds at once.
Broadcast or AV Supervisor
8-12 years
$83K-$102K
You oversee technicians, plan coverage, assign duties, and make sure shows and productions stay on schedule.
Technical Director / Operations Manager
12+ years
$103K-$128K
You manage the technical side of larger productions or venues, choose equipment, and handle budgets, staffing, and workflow design.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in audio production, broadcast technology, film, or a related field
This is the most common education level in the data, held by 42.67% of workers in this role, especially for people aiming at broadcast or technical director jobs.
High school diploma or GED with strong hands-on experience
A high school diploma is also a real route here, held by 25.07% of workers, usually paired with a portfolio, internship, or lots of practice on real equipment.
Postsecondary certificate in audio, video, or media production
A certificate path appears for 19.87% of workers and can be a faster way to get job-ready for studio, event, or venue work.
AVIXA CTS or manufacturer certification
A certification can help you stand out for installer, support, and live-event jobs, especially when you already know the basics and need proof of specific gear skills.
Key Skills
Technical
Signal Monitoring, Meters & Quality Control 75%
Digital Audio Workstations (Pro Tools, Adobe Audition) 70%
Broadcast Video Switchers & Signal Routing 70%
Live Sound Consoles (Yamaha, Allen & Heath, Behringer) 67%
Streaming, Conferencing & Capture Systems (OBS, Zoom Rooms, Teams Rooms) 65%
Equipment Troubleshooting, Calibration & Routine Maintenance 62%
Soft Skills
MonitoringCritical ThinkingOperations MonitoringReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingCoordination Job Outlook and Trends
+3.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
7.3K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 92.3K to 95.4 K over the next decade, representing 3.3% growth. Around 7.3 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.