🎤
Live Entertainment & Concert Touring
Live Nation Entertainment, AEG Presents, Madison Square Garden Entertainment
Lighting Technicians
Lighting technicians build, connect, and run the lights that shape concerts, theater shows, broadcasts, and other live events. The job is part electrical work, part show control: one day you are hanging fixtures and checking cables, and the next you are fine-tuning color and brightness cue by cue. The tradeoff is that the work is hands-on and visible when the show looks great, but the hours are irregular and the schedule depends on tours, rehearsals, and event bookings.
Also known as Stage Lighting TechnicianEntertainment Lighting TechnicianConcert Lighting TechnicianLighting Crew TechnicianTheatrical Lighting Technician
Median Salary
$60,560
Mean $70,000
U.S. Workforce
~10K
0.8K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-4.6%
12.1K to 11.5K
Entry Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Lighting 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 ~10K workers, with a median annual pay of $60,560 and roughly 0.8K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 12.1 K in 2024 to 11.5K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Postsecondary nondegree award in theatre technology or live event production, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Stagehand and can progress toward Lighting Director / Master Electrician. High-value skills usually include ETC Eos, GrandMA & Lighting Consoles, Electrical Safety, Cabling & Power Distribution, and Rigging, Hanging & Fixture Setup, paired with soft skills such as Attention to detail, Clear communication, and Teamwork.
Core Responsibilities
- Talk with the lighting director or production team to understand what the show needs.
- Check cables, fixtures, and power connections before a performance to catch fire or shock risks.
- Hang, move, and connect lighting equipment on stage, in studios, or at event venues.
- Add color filters, gobos, or other light effects to create the right look for the show.
Keep exploring: more Creative careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Talk with the lighting director or production team to understand what the show needs.
02 Check cables, fixtures, and power connections before a performance to catch fire or shock risks.
03 Hang, move, and connect lighting equipment on stage, in studios, or at event venues.
04 Add color filters, gobos, or other light effects to create the right look for the show.
05 Adjust brightness, color, and other fixture settings so they match the lighting plan.
06 Take equipment down after the event, pack it away, and report any gear that needs repair.
Industries That Hire
🎭
Theater & Performing Arts
Broadway Across America, Disney Theatrical Productions, Nederlander Organization
🎬
Film, TV & Streaming Production
NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix
🎢
Theme Parks & Attractions
Disney Experiences, Universal Destinations & Experiences, Six Flags Entertainment
🏟️
Sports Arenas & Convention Venues
ASM Global, Oak View Group, Freeman
Pros and Cons
Advantages
+
You can get into the field without years of school or prior experience; BLS lists no work experience and only short-term on-the-job training.
+
The pay can improve with experience and venue size, with a median annual wage of $60,560 and a mean of $70,000.
+
The work is concrete and visible: when the lighting is right, you can see the result immediately on stage or on camera.
+
No two days look exactly the same because concerts, theater, broadcast, and special events all use different setups.
+
For people who like live production, the job offers hands-on work with equipment, cues, and fast problem-solving instead of desk work.
Challenges
-
Employment is projected to slip from about 12.1 thousand jobs in 2024 to 11.5 thousand by 2034, a 4.6% decline, so the field is not growing.
-
There are only about 800 annual openings, so many jobs come from replacement needs rather than expansion.
-
The work can be physically demanding and risky, with heavy lifting, climbing, and constant checks for electrical shock or fire hazards.
-
Hours are often nights, weekends, and load-in or load-out windows, which makes the schedule hard to predict and harder to balance with family life.
-
The job is tied to live event budgets and venue schedules, so work can be uneven, project-based, and vulnerable to automation or reduced crew sizes as lighting systems become more efficient.
Career Progression
Stagehand
0-1 years
$32K-$42K
You help move gear, run cables, and set up the stage while learning how crews work and how shows are loaded in and out.
Junior Lighting Technician
1-3 years
$42K-$58K
You handle routine fixture setup, cable runs, and basic adjustments while working under a more experienced technician.
Lighting Technician THIS ROLE
3-7 years
$58K-$80K
You set up and operate lighting systems, check safety, and make cue-by-cue changes during performances or events.
Senior Lighting Technician
7-12 years
$80K-$105K
You lead parts of the lighting crew, troubleshoot complex problems, and help coordinate the look and timing of a production.
Lighting Director / Master Electrician
10+ years
$105K-$140K
You plan the full lighting setup, oversee crew work, and make high-stakes decisions about safety, equipment, and show execution.
Education Paths
Postsecondary nondegree award in theatre technology or live event production
This is the typical entry point for the role and fits the BLS-listed education level of a postsecondary nondegree award.
Short-term on-the-job training with an events or theater crew
BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training, which is how many workers learn the venue's gear, safety checks, and show workflow.
Certificate in stagecraft, entertainment technology, or live event production
A certificate can help you get hired faster by teaching console use, rigging basics, and electrical safety before you step onto a crew.
Key Skills
Technical
ETC Eos, GrandMA & Lighting Consoles 92%
Electrical Safety, Cabling & Power Distribution 88%
Rigging, Hanging & Fixture Setup 84%
LED Fixtures, Dimmers & Color Control 80%
Lighting Plots, Cue Sheets & Show Documentation 76%
Basic Troubleshooting & Equipment Maintenance 72%
Soft Skills
Attention to detailClear communicationTeamworkAdaptabilityTime managementProblem-solving Job Outlook and Trends
+-4.6%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
0.8K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 12.1K to 11.5 K over the next decade, representing -4.6% growth. Around 0.8 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.