Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers Salary

The median audiovisual equipment installers and repairers salary in the United States is $52,600 per year ($25.29/hour). Salaries range from $36,760 at the entry level to $84,190+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 19,780 audiovisual equipment installers and repairers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 6.6% through 2034.

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

Median Salary
$52,600
per year
Hourly Rate
$25.29
per hour
Employment
19,780
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$36,760
25th percentile
$44,490
Median
$52,600
75th percentile
$67,300
90th percentile
$84,190

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+6.6%
Faster than average

Annual Openings

2,600
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Postsecondary nondegree award

Training Needed

Short-term on-the-job training

Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for audiovisual equipment installers and repairerss.

AV installers and repairers design, install, program, and service audiovisual systems β€” conference rooms, broadcast facilities, houses of worship, higher education classrooms, control rooms, and residential integration. Entry $42-58k; established $58-82k; senior installer or lead technician $75-105k; systems designer / programmer or project lead $95-155k+. High school diploma is baseline; hands-on experience, AVIXA CTS credentials, and manufacturer certifications drive advancement.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

System design and cable pull planning
Read AutoCAD or Bluebeam plans, plan cable pathways, and specify cable types (HDBaseT, fiber, category, coax). Get this wrong and installation loses days.
Rack build and cable termination
Neat rack builds with proper strain relief, labeled cables, and organized dressing. Termination on category, coax, and fiber to spec.
Control programming (Crestron, Extron, AMX, Q-SYS)
Programming touch panels, DSP for audio, and video routing. Crestron SIMPL Windows and Q-SYS Designer are the two dominant platforms.
Networking for AV over IP
VLANs, QoS, IGMP, multicast, and PTP for AV-over-IP protocols (Dante, AES67, NDI, SDVoE). AV networking is now table stakes.
Commissioning and testing
Signal chain verification, DSP tuning, camera calibration, and end-to-end system tests before client handoff. Punch lists and QC documentation.
Troubleshooting and service
Field diagnostics on video walls, room control, and streaming systems. Remote monitoring and on-site service under SLA windows.
Safety and construction interface
OSHA 30, fall protection, lift certification. Working alongside electricians, drywallers, and construction crews in coordinated schedules.

How to Become a Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers

  1. 1
    Complete high school with electronics or technical trades coursework
    Community college AV/electronics programs (SAE, TESST) are helpful but not required. Church or high school theater tech is a strong pre-apprenticeship.
  2. 2
    Start as an apprentice or installer helper
    $16-24/hr. Learn cable pulling, rack building, and basic termination under senior installers. 12-24 months to journeyman level.
  3. 3
    Earn AVIXA CTS certification
    Certified Technology Specialist is the industry-standard credential. Required for most senior positions and many corporate contracts.
  4. 4
    Specialize (programmer, project lead, service, systems designer)
    $65-105k. Crestron and Q-SYS programming pay strongest right now; systems design is the path to project engineer and design-lead roles.
  5. 5
    Advance to Sr Tech, Systems Designer, or Project Manager
    $95-165k+. Managers own project P&L, systems designers own technical scope, and Sr Techs are the seniormost billable resources on complex integrations.

Career Progression

Apprentice / Installer Helper
0-2 yrs$38-52k ($16-24/hr)
  • β€’Cable pulling and pathway management
  • β€’Assist with rack builds and rough-in
  • β€’Load and unload gear at job sites
  • β€’Learn tools and manufacturer product lines
Next: Journeyman Installer at 1-3 years.
Journeyman Installer / Field Technician
2-6 yrs$52-78k
  • β€’Independent installation on defined systems (conference rooms, small classrooms)
  • β€’Terminate all common AV cable types
  • β€’Basic commissioning and DSP tuning under supervision
  • β€’Coordinate with electricians and other trades
Next: Sr Installer, Programmer, or Service Tech at 4-8 years.
Sr Installer / Programmer / Systems Engineer
5-12 yrs$78-115k
  • β€’Lead installation on complex systems (video walls, broadcast, boardrooms)
  • β€’Crestron or Q-SYS programming
  • β€’Systems commissioning end-to-end
  • β€’Mentor apprentices and lead job-site teams
Next: Systems Designer, Sr Programmer, or Project Manager at 10-15 years.
Systems Designer / Sr Programmer / Project Manager
10+ yrs$105-165k+
  • β€’Design AV systems from RFP through commissioning
  • β€’Own $500k-$5M project P&L
  • β€’Client-facing role on major integrations
  • β€’Contribute to firm-wide technical standards
Next: Design Director, Engineering Manager, or firm owner.

Interview Questions & Answers

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

Q1. Walk me through installing a mid-size conference room AV system.technical
Pre-install: review CAD drawings, layout, and signal flow. On-site: pull cables (HDBaseT for video, network for control, DSP audio to ceiling mic array), install and terminate outlets, mount displays and camera. Build the AV rack with proper cable dressing. Program the touch panel to spec. Commission with signal verification and DSP tuning. Client walkthrough with punch list and training. Typical mid-size room 60-100 labor hours.
Q2. How do you handle a job-site delay caused by another trade?situational
Document the delay, communicate to project manager, and adjust schedule. If it's blocking (electrical rough-in not done), redirect the crew to another task rather than stand idle. Escalate to PM if it becomes a critical-path issue. Keep the relationship with other trades professional β€” you'll work with them again.
Q3. Describe a difficult troubleshooting call.behavioral
STAR. Situation: intermittent HDMI signal loss on a Fortune-500 boardroom, 3 previous techs unable to resolve. Task: identify and fix within one visit. Action: signal-flow diagnosis β€” swapped source, cable, and matrix input one at a time. Root cause: bent HDBaseT connector on wall plate. Result: replaced connector and installed strain relief; documented root cause and preventive measure for firm-wide use.
Q4. Why AV installation?culture
Hands-on technical work that keeps changing β€” every project has a different room, different gear, different problem. Good day-rate income, real skills, and no ceiling for the ones willing to learn programming and design. I like the mix of physical work and technical depth.
Q5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?closer
Sr Installer with Crestron and Q-SYS programming certification, running my own crews on major integrations. Long term I'd consider the systems designer or project engineer path β€” technical leadership without leaving the craft.

Resume Template β€” Journeyman Installer / Field Technician (2-6 yrs)

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

Journeyman Installer / Field Technician (2-6 yrs)
  • β–ΈInstalled 45+ conference rooms, 12 broadcast studios, and 6 video walls at [AV integrator].
  • β–ΈAVIXA CTS + Crestron Fundamentals + Q-SYS Level 1 certified.
  • β–ΈZero call-backs on last 24 completed installations.
  • β–ΈFluent in HDBaseT, Dante, NDI, and standard AV networking.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Sloppy cable dressing and unlabeled rack builds β€” signals amateur workmanship instantly.
  • βœ—Weak on manufacturer certifications after 3+ years β€” a signal of stalled growth.
  • βœ—Poor site communication β€” can't coordinate with electricians, GCs, and other trades.
  • βœ—Refuses to program β€” the biggest career-limiting move in modern AV.
  • βœ—No fluency in AV-over-IP networking β€” dangerous gap in 2024-2025.
  • βœ—Weak documentation β€” punch lists, as-built drawings, and QC docs are what earn repeat contracts.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Crestron Master certification or Q-SYS Level 2/3 β€” $10-25k premium.
  • βœ“AVIXA CTS-D or CTS-I β€” required for many corporate and government contracts.
  • βœ“Networking depth (Cisco CCNA or equivalent) β€” critical for AV-over-IP integrations.
  • βœ“IBEW or IATSE union membership β€” steady work and benefits at unionized shops.
  • βœ“Metro market premium: NYC, SF, DC, Boston pay 20-35% more than secondary markets.
  • βœ“Sign-on bonuses of $5-15k common at Sr and Programmer levels.

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Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$33K
$75Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Connecticut
$75K
+42%
Washington
$71K
+34%
Delaware
$70K
+33%
Maryland
$65K
+24%
Iowa
$64K
+22%
Illinois
$63K
+20%
New Hampshire
$63K
+19%
California
$62K
+19%
New York
$62K
+19%
Montana
$61K
+16%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Connecticut$74,890+42.4%
Washington$70,720+34.4%
Delaware$69,990+33.1%
Maryland$65,160+23.9%
Iowa$64,390+22.4%
Illinois$62,870+19.5%
New Hampshire$62,810+19.4%
California$62,390+18.6%
New York$62,380+18.6%
Montana$60,900+15.8%
1–10 of 45

Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$79,040+50.3%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$78,580+49.4%
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$74,890+42.4%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$73,890+40.5%
Waterbury-Shelton, CT$73,870+40.4%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$71,990+36.9%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$70,720+34.4%
Manchester-Nashua, NH$68,920+31.0%
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$65,610+24.7%
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$65,150+23.9%
1–10 of 86
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 audiovisual equipment installers and repairers earning $52,600/year would need 1133 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1217 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
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View Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers salary trend (2011–2024) β†’