Audio and Video Technicians Salary

The median audio and video technicians salary in the United States is $58,100 per year ($27.93/hour). Salaries range from $37,990 at the entry level to $100,650+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 70,230 audio and video technicians jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 3.3% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary
$58,100
per year
Hourly Rate
$27.93
per hour
Employment
70,230
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$37,990
25th percentile
$46,390
Median
$58,100
75th percentile
$77,560
90th percentile
$100,650

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+3.3%
As fast as average

Annual Openings

7,300
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Postsecondary nondegree award

Training Needed

Short-term on-the-job training

Audio and Video Technicians Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for audio and video technicianss.

Audio and video technicians set up, operate, and maintain sound, lighting, and video systems β€” for corporate events, houses of worship, live music, broadcast, theater, concert tours, and film/TV production. Entry $38-55k; established $55-78k; senior A1/V1 or lead tech $75-115k; touring FOH engineers and film production sound mixers $115-215k+. High school diploma is baseline; hands-on experience, apprenticeship, and IATSE or IBEW union membership matter more than degree.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Signal flow (audio and video)
Understand how signal moves from source through processing to output. This is the diagnostic foundation for every troubleshooting call in the field.
Audio consoles (Yamaha, DiGiCo, Avid, Allen & Heath)
Digital console fluency: routing, gain structure, EQ, dynamics, effects, and monitor mixing. Different manufacturers have different logic β€” depth in 1-2 platforms wins jobs.
Video switching and routing
Ross Carbonite, Blackmagic ATEM, Grass Valley. IMAG, video walls, and streaming outputs for corporate and event work.
Wireless RF coordination
Frequency coordination with Shure Wireless Workbench, awareness of FCC white-space rules, and multi-channel troubleshooting. Critical for corporate, theater, and broadcast.
Lighting and rigging basics
DMX programming, moving lights, and rigging safety. Many entry techs work as A2, V2, and L2 across disciplines before specializing.
System troubleshooting under pressure
When the mic dies mid-keynote or a video wall goes black during a live broadcast, you fix it in 30 seconds without visible panic. This is the job.
Client and production communication
Corporate producers, tour managers, and directors need clear technical updates. Techs who can translate 'the RF is intermittent' into 'the CEO's mic will drop on stage right' get repeat calls.

How to Become a Audio and Video Technicians

  1. 1
    Complete high school with electronics and audio-visual coursework where available
    AV club, high school theater tech, or church tech volunteering builds an early foundation.
  2. 2
    Complete an AV or broadcast technology program (optional but common)
    Full Sail, SAE, or community college programs. 6-24 months. Not required but accelerates hiring.
  3. 3
    Start as a stagehand, apprentice, or AV assistant
    $16-24/hr. Learn cable coiling, gear identification, rigging basics, and load-in/load-out logistics under senior techs.
  4. 4
    Specialize (audio, video, lighting, RF, broadcast)
    $55-95k. Pick a track β€” corporate A1 or V1, touring FOH or monitors, broadcast operator, film sound mixer.
  5. 5
    Join a union (IATSE for stagehands, NABET or IBEW for broadcast) or build a freelance book
    $75-215k+. Union membership stabilizes benefits and pay; freelancers with strong reputations command premium day rates.

Career Progression

Stagehand / AV Assistant / A2 / V2
0-3 yrs$38-55k ($16-24/hr)
  • β€’Load and unload gear, cable runs, spike marks
  • β€’Support A1/V1 on setup, patch, and strike
  • β€’Learn manufacturer-specific consoles and workflows
  • β€’Take direction quickly and stay calm under load
Next: A1/V1 or specialty tech at 2-4 years.
A1 / V1 / Sound Engineer / Video Engineer
3-8 yrs$55-95k ($28-45/hr)
  • β€’Lead audio or video for events, tours, broadcast, or theater
  • β€’Mix live sound (FOH or monitors)
  • β€’Direct A2s and V2s on set
  • β€’Own client relationships on repeat gigs
Next: Sr A1/V1 or specialty (FOH, RF coordinator) at 6-12 years.
Sr A1 / Lead Tech / Tour Engineer
7-15 yrs$85-155k
  • β€’Chief engineer for major tours, broadcasts, or venue
  • β€’Design and spec systems for events
  • β€’Mentor and hire techs
  • β€’Own high-stakes production relationships
Next: Production Manager, TD, or Systems Designer at 12-20 years.
Production Manager / Technical Director / Systems Designer
12+ yrs$115-235k+
  • β€’Direct production for tours, venues, or facilities
  • β€’Own budget, hiring, and technical strategy
  • β€’Design new venues or broadcast facilities
  • β€’Represent company or artist publicly
Next: VP Production or facility founder.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through your signal flow troubleshooting process.technical
Start at the source (mic, camera, playback) and follow signal downstream. Check each junction β€” cable, DI, snake, console input, insert, output, amp, speaker. Swap known-good gear at each junction. Most issues are cable (~60%), gain structure (~20%), and settings (~15%). The 5% that are gear failure are the ones people talk about, but the boring stuff pays the bills.
Q2. Describe a show where something went wrong.behavioral
STAR. Situation: keynote speaker's wireless lav dropped 3 minutes into a 45-minute talk in front of 800 attendees. Task: recover without visible panic. Action: swapped to backup handheld wireless from A2 within 8 seconds, cued speaker with hand signal, walked lav to trouble-shoot during Q&A. Result: audience didn't notice the swap; RF interference from adjacent hotel confirmed and moved to backup frequency for day 2. Backups aren't optional β€” they're the job.
Q3. How do you handle a difficult client or artist?situational
Stay professional and technical. If the artist wants more low-end at FOH but the room has too much boominess, I make the change and manage the room acoustics with EQ. If a corporate producer wants an impossible timeline, I present the tradeoff and let them decide. Never argue in the room β€” solve.
Q4. Why AV work?culture
It's live, it's hands-on, and every job is different β€” corporate today, worship service Sunday, tour rehearsal Tuesday. The pay is good for someone who works hard and shows up on time. And when a show goes well, you know exactly why.
Q5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?closer
Sr A1 at a major AV production company or FOH engineer for a mid-size touring act. Long term I'd consider TD or systems design work β€” building out venues or festival systems.

Resume Template β€” A1 / V1 / Sound Engineer (3-8 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

A1 / V1 / Sound Engineer (3-8 yrs)
  • β–ΈA1 on 240+ corporate events, tours, and broadcasts across [region]; zero show-stopping failures FY24.
  • β–ΈFluent on DiGiCo Quantum, Avid S6L, and Yamaha PM7. Wireless coordination for 32-channel Shure Axient systems.
  • β–ΈIATSE Local [xxx] member. AVIXA CTS + Dante Level 3 certified.
  • β–ΈRegular A1 for [venue or corporate client]; repeat book with $145k in FY24 gross freelance revenue.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Weak signal-flow diagnostic skills β€” freezes when the console shows no input.
  • βœ—Poor cable management β€” coiling, labeling, and organization signals professionalism instantly.
  • βœ—Panics under show pressure β€” visible stress on stage is career-limiting.
  • βœ—Won't take direction from senior tech or client β€” everyone starts as a runner.
  • βœ—Poor time discipline β€” call time is call time, and load-in ends when load-in ends.
  • βœ—No fluency on major digital consoles or platforms after 3+ years.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“IATSE, IBEW, or NABET union membership β€” meaningful pay premium and benefits.
  • βœ“AVIXA CTS or CTS-D certification β€” required for many corporate contracts.
  • βœ“RF coordination expertise (Shure Wireless Workbench, complex frequency plans) β€” commands premium.
  • βœ“Broadcast (network TV or high-profile streaming) β€” 20-40% pay premium.
  • βœ“Metro market (NYC, LA, Nashville, Vegas) β€” 25-40% higher day rates than secondary markets.
  • βœ“Touring engineer for national act β€” day rates $500-1,500 plus buyout; monitor engineers command similar.

Audio and Video Technicians Resume Review β€” $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired audio and video technicianss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

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  • βœ“ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
  • βœ“ Missing skills / keywords flagged
  • βœ“ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
  • βœ“ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Audio and Video Technicians Career Kit β€” $19

  • βœ“ All 13 interview questions with expert answers
  • βœ“ 6 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
  • βœ“ Interview format intel for 6 top employers
  • βœ“ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
  • βœ“ Downloadable PDF for offline access
  • βœ“ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
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Audio and Video Technicians Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$44K
$79Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

District of Columbia
$79K
+36%
New Jersey
$71K
+22%
Maryland
$70K
+21%
Washington
$69K
+19%
New York
$68K
+16%
California
$65K
+11%
Rhode Island
$64K
+10%
Nevada
$63K
+8%
Connecticut
$62K
+7%
Alaska
$62K
+7%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
District of Columbia$78,770+35.6%
New Jersey$71,040+22.3%
Maryland$70,040+20.6%
Washington$69,270+19.2%
New York$67,600+16.4%
California$64,620+11.2%
Rhode Island$64,070+10.3%
Nevada$62,770+8.0%
Connecticut$62,120+6.9%
Alaska$62,060+6.8%
1–10 of 49

Audio and Video Technicians Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$86,470+48.8%
Auburn-Opelika, AL$79,810+37.4%
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ$79,610+37.0%
Springfield, MA$79,470+36.8%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$75,540+30.0%
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$74,380+28.0%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$73,100+25.8%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$72,300+24.4%
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL$71,540+23.1%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$69,270+19.2%
1–10 of 189
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A audio and video technicians earning $58,100/year would need 1026 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1102 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how audio and video technicians salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Audio and Video Technicians salary trend (2011–2024) β†’