Skip to main contentReport an accessibility problem
ASU for LifeASU for Life

Lighting Technicians

Arts, Audio/Video Technology and CommunicationsO*NET 27-4015.00United States

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.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$65,828

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
+4%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
Bachelor's degree

42.7% of the workforce

Employment
11.06K jobs

Growing to 11.51K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

Loading available locations…

Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

Loading related ASU learning

The work

What lighting technicians do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Assess safety of wiring or equipment set-up to determine the risk of fire or electrical shock.
  • Consult with lighting director or production staff to determine lighting requirements.
  • Disassemble and store equipment after performances.
  • Install color effects or image patterns, such as color filters, onto lighting fixtures.
  • Install electrical cables or wire fixtures.
  • Load, unload, or position lighting equipment.
  • Match light fixture settings, such as brightness and color, to lighting design plans.
  • Notify supervisors when major lighting equipment repairs are needed.
  • Operate manual or automated systems to control lighting throughout productions.
  • Patch or wire lights to dimmers or other electronic consoles.
  • Perform minor repairs or routine maintenance on lighting equipment, such as replacing lamps or damaged color filters.
  • Program lighting consoles or load automated lighting control systems onto consoles.
  • Set up and focus light fixtures to meet requirements of television, theater, concerts, or other productions.
  • Set up scaffolding or cranes to assist with setting up of lighting equipment.
  • Test lighting equipment function and desired lighting effects.
  • Visit and assess structural and electrical layout of locations before setting up lighting equipment.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$36,786
25th percentile
$48,476
50th percentile
$65,828
75th percentile
$100,304
90th percentile
$152,714

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $65,828 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+4%average or slower
202511,061 jobs
2035 projected11,505 jobs

444 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

Bachelor's degree
42.7%
High school diploma or less
25.1%
Certificate
19.9%
Associate degree
11.2%
Some college
1.2%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Lighting Systems
  • Lifting Ability
  • Product Knowledge
  • Rigging
  • Working at Heights
  • Technology Solutions
  • Stage Lighting
  • Stagecraft
  • Construction
  • Lighting Design
  • Hand Tools
  • Electrical Wiring
  • Project Management
  • Stage Management
  • Power Tool Operation
  • Control Systems
  • Carpentry
  • Inventory Management
  • Inventory Staging
  • Low Voltage

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Home Theater Specialists764 postings
  2. 02Lighting Technicians592 postings
  3. 03Theater Technicians174 postings
  4. 04Lighting Specialists129 postings
  5. 05Lighting Designers108 postings
  6. 06Entertainment Technicians106 postings
  7. 07Automation Operators104 postings
  8. 08Stagehands84 postings
  9. 09Lighting Quotations Specialists83 postings
  10. 10Technical Directors82 postings
  11. 11Directors of Photography80 postings
  12. 12Lighting Service Technicians69 postings
  13. 13Entertainment Managers61 postings
  14. 14Stage Technicians61 postings
  15. 15Installation Technicians58 postings
  16. 16Lighting Supervisors52 postings
  17. 17Lighting Controls Specialists50 postings
  18. 18Sound and Lighting Technicians50 postings
  19. 19Entertainment Professionals39 postings
  20. 20Audiovisual Technicians38 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Best Buy750 postings
  2. 02Walt Disney220 postings
  3. 03Cedar Point53 postings
  4. 04Carowinds51 postings
  5. 05RWS Global Enterprises42 postings
  6. 06Six Flags Entertainment Corporation39 postings
  7. 07Duke Energy38 postings
  8. 08Rhino Staging & Event Solutions31 postings
  9. 09Online Corporation Limited28 postings
  10. 10Herc24 postings
  11. 11Encore Global22 postings
  12. 12Energy Systems Group22 postings
  13. 13Facility Solutions Group21 postings
  14. 14Davis H Elliot Co.18 postings
  15. 15Six Flags Great Adventure17 postings
  16. 16M.C. Dean16 postings
  17. 17Asplundh Tree Experts14 postings
  18. 18Internet.Com.Co14 postings
  19. 19Brite Nites13 postings
  20. 20Consolidated Electrical Distributors13 postings

Keep looking

Related careers

Actors

Median pay
$59,753
Employment outlook
+4.5%

Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes

Median pay
$73,406
Employment outlook
−0.2%

Archivists

Median pay
$63,136
Employment outlook
+7.1%

Art Directors

Median pay
$77,672
Employment outlook
+13%