Lighting Technicians Career, Salary and Skills
Lighting Technicians have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $68,060 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 8,900. Wage data is published for 57 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
27-4015.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Not recorded
Experience
Not recorded
National salary and employment
Median annual
$68,060
Hourly median
$32.72
Employment
8,900
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- FileMaker Pro
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Project
- Programmable logic controller PLC software
- Rockwell RSLogix
- SAP Maintenance
Lighting Technicians salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Lighting Technicians Salary in CAMedian $94,070 · Employment 2,950
- Lighting Technicians Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $105,010 · Employment 2,040
- Lighting Technicians Salary in NYMedian $78,000 · Employment 780
- Lighting Technicians Salary in New York, NYMedian $87,510 · Employment 720
- Lighting Technicians Salary in FLMedian $62,190 · Employment 600
- Lighting Technicians Salary in NVMedian $61,250 · Employment 390
- Lighting Technicians Salary in Las Vegas, NVMedian $61,250 · Employment 380
- Lighting Technicians Salary in NJMedian $87,550 · Employment 340
- Lighting Technicians Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $74,000 · Employment 320
- Lighting Technicians Salary in TNMedian $60,870 · Employment 280
- Lighting Technicians Salary in OHMedian $54,940 · Employment 260
- Lighting Technicians Salary in GAMedian $70,150 · Employment 260
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.